Ukraine Vs Albania

As the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League gets underway, Ukraine and Albania are set to face off in their opening match on Saturday evening at epet ARENA in Prague, a neutral venue for the clash. Both teams will be eager to make a strong start in League B Group 1, which also includes Georgia and the Czech Republic. This encounter marks their first competitive action since their respective campaigns in Euro 2024.

Ukraine’s Recent History and Outlook

Ukraine entered Euro 2024 with considerable expectations, being touted as potential dark horses. However, their campaign ended in disappointment as they were eliminated at the group stage, marking their third early exit in four European Championship appearances. The Blue and Yellow managed to secure four points from their three group matches, the same as Romania, Belgium, and Slovakia. Despite this, their inferior goal difference saw them finish at the bottom of the group, failing to progress to the knockout rounds.

Serhiy Rebrov, Ukraine’s head coach, has had a mixed tenure since taking over in June 2023, with only three losses in his 16 matches in charge. Despite these setbacks, he has retained the core of his squad, aiming to turn their fortunes around in the Nations League. Ukraine’s previous Nations League campaign saw them narrowly miss out on promotion from League B, finishing second behind Scotland by just two points. They had an impressive record in their group, winning three and drawing two of their six matches.

Currently ranked 25th in the FIFA world rankings, Ukraine has a commendable record in the Nations League with six wins, two draws, and two losses in their ten matches in League B. They have historically fared well against Albania, winning their last two encounters with an aggregate score of 7-2. However, their most recent match against Albania was in June 2018.

Albania’s Recent Performance and Prospects

Albania’s participation in Euro 2024 marked only their second appearance in a major tournament. Despite not advancing past the group stage, the Red and Blacks earned respect for their performances in a challenging group that included Croatia, Italy, and Spain. As the second-lowest ranked team at Euro 2024, Albania held their own, suffering narrow defeats to Italy and Spain and securing a 2-2 draw with Croatia.

The arrival of Brazilian head coach Sylvinho in January 2023 has brought some positive changes for Albania. Under his stewardship, the team has achieved seven wins, four draws, and five losses in 16 matches. Albania is now set to enter their second consecutive League B campaign in the Nations League, hoping to improve on their previous performance where they finished third in a three-team group behind Israel and Iceland, collecting just two points from four matches.

Albania’s record away from home has been less than impressive, with only one win in their last 13 away matches since the end of 2021. They have never defeated Ukraine in six previous attempts, with five losses and one draw, which occurred in a 2-2 World Cup qualifier in October 2005.

Conclusion

The upcoming match between Ukraine and Albania at epet ARENA promises to be an intriguing encounter as both teams look to kickstart their UEFA Nations League campaigns with a victory. Ukraine will be keen to build on their solid Nations League record and previous successes against Albania, while the Red and Blacks will aim to overcome their historical struggles and away record to make a significant impact in their League B group. As the new season of the Nations League unfolds, this fixture offers a compelling start to the competition for both nations.