Albania will host Georgia in an exciting clash from League B of the UEFA Nations League. Both sides are coming from convincing wins and will decide the leader of this group.
Albania and Georgia were two of the pleasant surprises of the European Championship earlier this summer. Few fans expected anything from these small nations but their performances left a lasting impression that the football level in Eastern Europe is improving.
Albania got picked in the “group of death” with Spain, Italy, and Croatia. But instead of suffering a heavy beating three times in a row, Albania not only put up a decent fight but even won a point against the Vatreni.
Georgia found themselves in a group with Portugal, Turkey, and the Czech Republic and crafted a historic upset when they defeated Ronaldo’s team 2-0 to reach the ⅛ finals.
Both national teams began their UNL campaigns with wins as heavy underdogs, so this fixture will decide who will top the group after the first couple of rounds. Albania outplayed Ukraine with 2-1 on the road while Georgia obliterated the Czech Republic with 4-1 in Tbilisi.
How the bookies view it: Odds in the centre
As expected, bookmakers found it hard to nominate a favourite ahead of this fixture. Albania’s triumph is priced at 8/5 while the away win is currently 7/4 at Betfred. You can bet on the draw at 23/10.
Recent head-to-head: Georgia with a slight edge
The last official fixture between the two nations was in 2005 but they have played multiple friendlies in the years since. The last five matches were close, while Georgia hold the advantage with 2-0 and three draws in the last five meetings.
Players to watch – Kvaratskhelia is a machine
Both managers will likely keep the same line-ups for the second and last match from this cycle since both teams secured the three points confidently.
Singling out a player from the Albanian squad to score a goal is a tough call. On the other end, however, stands a man named Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian playmaker is quickly becoming a national hero and has contributed to 13 goals in his ten appearances in this competition to date. He has scored seven goals and assisted six.
Probable line-ups
Albania: Strakosha, Hysaj, Ismajli, Kumbulla, Mitaj, Ramadani, Asllani, Asani, Laci, Bajrami, Manaj
Georgia: Mamardashvili, Gvelesiani, Kashia, Dvali, Kakabadze, Chakvetadze, Kochorashvili, Kiteishvili, Lochoshvili, Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia
Anything else catch the eye?
Neither side boasts a brilliant defense line but both teams have been scoring impressive numbers in recent games. Expectations are for a goal-packed contest with action on both ends. Both markets for goals deserve attention in this case – BTTS & Over 2.5.
While Albania had a brilliant tactical performance against Ukraine, Georgia wrecked the Czech Republic and the 4-1 FT score could have easily been higher if they were just a tad more clinical in front of the goal. An X2 double chance bet seems to be the best option for this match as the chances for a draw are high.
This UEFA Nations League match between Albania and Georgia will be played on Sep 10, 2024 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Albania vs Georgia prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
