Five straight defeats against an unbeaten team under a new coach: Albania vs Belarus prediction
Belarus
The UEFA Nations League 2026/27 opener between Albania and Belarus will take place on September 26 at the Arena Kombëtare in Tirana. The teams are competing in Group 3 of League C alongside Finland and San Marino, with the hosts entering the tournament on a losing streak, while Belarus are yet to lose under Viktor Goncharenko.
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Albania: new coach has yet to halt the slide
Albania came close to qualifying for the World Cup but fell 1-2 to Poland in the playoff final, despite taking the lead during the match. Rolando Maran then took charge of the team, but the early results have been disappointing: 0-1 defeats by Israel and Luxembourg extended their losing streak to five consecutive matches.
Even so, the squad remains strong enough for League C. Rei Manaj and Cristian Shpendi could lead the attack, with the latter having scored six goals in five Serie B appearances for Cesena. On the other hand, Armando Broja is not in the squad, while Qazim Laçi and Adrion Pajaziti are sidelined with injuries.
Belarus: Goncharenko is still unbeaten
Belarus head into the start of the Nations League on the back of a six-match unbeaten run — three wins and three draws. Under Viktor Goncharenko, the team have beaten Cyprus 1-0, Armenia 2-1 and Syria 4-1, while their most recent outing ended in a 2-2 draw with Burkina Faso.
In the previous edition, Belarus finished two points short of second place and a promotion playoff spot, so their motivation will be especially high in the current campaign. Max Ebong is again expected to play a key role in midfield, while 20-year-old Trofim Melnichenko is one of the candidates to start up front.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Albania have lost five matches in a row.
- Belarus are unbeaten in six consecutive matches and have yet to lose under Viktor Goncharenko.
- Albania are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Belarus: three wins and one draw.
The hosts' losing streak could end here: Albania vs Belarus prediction
Belarus currently look more stable in terms of results, but their defence still raises questions — the team have conceded in 10 of their last 12 matches. Albania, meanwhile, despite their crisis, have a home fixture against an opponent they have regularly beaten in recent years.
If the hosts finally improve their finishing, home advantage and their superior individual quality could prove decisive. The match is unlikely to be one-sided, but Albania have a strong chance of ending their poor run.
