Ukraine vs Albania Prediction: Hosts to kickstart campaign with victory

Ukraine narrowly missed out on promotion to League A in the last iteration of the UEFA Nations League, but they will be confident of starting the new campaign with a victory after an impressive, albeit fruitless, Euro 2024 challenge. 

Albania picked up just two points from four games in their truncated Nations League assignment, with the suspension of Russia cutting the field down to three and seeing The Eagles finish bottom of that pile. They will hope to perform a little better in a group that includes Czech Republic and Georgia alongside Ukraine. 

Ukraine vs Albania Odds

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Ukraine are 4/5 favourites to take all three points, with Albania at 18/5 and a stalemate priced at 5/2. A low-scoring game is expected, with Under 2.5 goals odds-on at 8/13 and Both Teams to Score offered at even money. 

Football Odds

Team News

Artem Dovbyk has withdrawn from the Ukraine squad through injury, with Roman Yaremchuk expected to lead the line in his stead. Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko is present, along with veteran captain Andriy Yarmolenko and Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk. 

Albania have suffered a few big injury blows, with Atalanta defender Berat Gjimshiti and Everton's Armando Broja both sidelined. Inter Milan youngster Kristjan Asllani will be hoping to add to his two international goals, while Lazio's Elseid Hysaj will captain the team from the back. 

Ukraine to win @ 4/5 

Ukraine and Albania both failed to make it out of their Euro 2024 group in the summer and didn't achieve promotion to the top league in the last UEFA Nations League, but there is no denying that Ukraine were the more promising of the duo. 

The hosts took four points from their Euro 2024 group, including a draw against Belgium, and were denied Nations League promotion due only to their failure to beat group-winners Scotland in the final round of fixtures. 

Albania, on the other hand, claimed just one point in the Euro 2024 group stages and were six points adrift of Israel in the 2022/23 Nations League.  

They last met Ukraine in 2018, with a 4-1 defeat making it five losses and one draw in their six encounters with them, and another defeat for The Eagles is expected on Saturday. 

Roman Yaremchuk to score anytime @ 8/5 

With Artem Dovbyk ruled out through injury, Roman Yaremchuk will be Ukraine's main attacking threat on Saturday. 

The Olympiacos striker has scored 16 goals for his country and has netted three times in his last seven outings for Ukraine, despite starting on the bench in three of those.  

Offers

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