Sabasports Match Preview
World Cup Qualifiers: Serbia vs Albania
Kickoff Time: 2025-10-12 02:45 (HKT)
Source: REUTERS/Zorana Jevtic
This is a match in the European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Serbia currently sits third in the group, having played one fewer game, and trails Albania by one point. In terms of qualification prospects, the two teams are competing for a playoff spot. According to the squad list released by the Serbian Football Association, the forward line is led by Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic and Union Berlin striker Andrej Ilic. Vlahovic has scored two goals in Serie A, while Ilic has provided four assists in the Bundesliga, with both players in excellent form. In midfield, the playmaker is Lazar Samardzic from Atalanta, who has scored in his last two matches. In defense, the most notable players are Strahinja Pavlovic of AC Milan and Nikola Milenkovic of Nottingham Forest. However, Milenkovic received a red card in the last round and will be suspended for this match, forcing Serbia to reorganize their defensive line. Recent matches have shown that Serbia excels at creating chances through crosses from the wings and the target play of their two strikers.
Albania has never qualified for the World Cup finals. In the previous World Cup qualifiers, the team finished third in their group. The current squad includes all six players who play in Serie A: Atalanta captain and defender Berat Djimsiti, Lazio defender Elseid Hysaj, Lecce midfielders Ylber Ramadani and Medon Berisha, Torino center-back Ardian Ismajli, and midfielder Kristjan Asllani. In the forward line, the slightly more notable player is Armando Broja, who plays for Premier League side Burnley. However, Broja is not a regular starter and has only played 42 minutes in the league this season, without any goals or assists. Overall, Albania’s squad offers no surprises, as they have opted for a safe and reliable lineup rather than taking risks with new players. It is evident that Albania’s star players are concentrated in the midfield and defense. As a result, the six Serie A players form the tactical foundation of the team, employing a multi-layered dense defensive line in front of the penalty area to compress the opponent’s attacking space and implement zonal marking, while also utilizing wing attacks to threaten the opponent’s goal.
There is a certain gap in quality between the two teams. In their previous encounter, Albania barely managed a draw against Serbia thanks to home advantage. At that time, Albania had only 43% possession and a pass success rate as low as 83%, clearly being outplayed. Now, with Serbia playing at home, their dominance in the game is expected to increase further. Serbia is unlikely to miss the opportunity to secure all three points.
Serbia‘s Last 5 Games: LWWDW
25-09-10 Serbia 0-5 England
25-09-06 Latvia 0-1 Serbia
25-06-11 Serbia 3-0 Andorra
25-06-08 Albania 0-0 Serbia
25-03-24 Serbia 2-0 Austria
Albania‘s Last 5 Games: WWDDW
25-09-10 Albania 1-0 Latvia
25-09-05 Gibraltar 0-1 Albania
25-06-11 Latvia 1-1 Albania
25-06-08 Albania 0-0 Serbia
25-03-25 Albania 3-0 Andorra
Head-To-Head Record
25-06-08 Albania 0-0 Serbia
15-10-09 Albania 0-2 Serbia
Prediction: Serbia to win