Friday evening brings us further action from the Nations League and a League B Group 2 encounter between hosts, Albania, and visitors, Israel, when the two teams meet at the Air Albania Stadium in Tirana.
In what is looking like an increasingly tight group with just two points separating the early group leaders, Iceland, and the remaining two nations, Albania and Israel (due to Russia not being involved in the competition), points have become increasingly precious and this upcoming clash on Friday night looks to be no exception.
Happy 50th birthday to Eyal Berkovic!🎊 #happybday pic.twitter.com/HqS90zeHaf— ISRAEL FA (@ISRAELFA) April 2, 2022
Happy 50th birthday to Eyal Berkovic!🎊 #happybday pic.twitter.com/HqS90zeHaf
Albania got themselves on the board in their opening group match by virtue of holding Iceland to a 1-1 draw and they now return to the more familiar surroundings of their Air Albania Stadium where the hosts will be relying upon form and results in their own backyard to gain the upper hand here.
However, recent results haven’t exactly gone all Albania’s way as the hosts have managed to muster just one win out of their last six matches overall in all competitions, this coming in the shape of a narrow 1-0 win over Andorra but defeats to Poland, England and Spain have pegged them back.
Israel have also produced a somewhat mixed bag of results in recent times as the visitors have picked up just two wins out of their last eight matches overall, recording victories over Moldova and Faroe Islands but they too have suffered a few defeats lately.
Losses to Denmark, Scotland, Austria and Germany have all been on their travels and against fairly strong opposition but beforehand, Israel had won four of their preceding six away games in all competitions.
Wins on the road at Slovakia, Moldova, Montenegro and Faroe Islands should still give Israel the confidence in grabbing a result of some sort in Tirana on Friday night while forwards, Shon Weissman (who plundered a total of 20 goals for Real Valladolid in La Liga 2) along with Munas Dabbur of German Bundesliga side, Hoffenheim, offer quality and cutting edge up front for the visitors.
There is little to choose though between Albania and Israel especially when looking at previous encounters as honours are even with both Albani and Israel winning and losing twice in their previous four meetings overall.
Israel though may just sneak a narrow win but they look a decent prospect with the handicap.