Albaniavs.Ukraine

Either side could yet be relegated, too, as just three points cover all four teams in League B Group 1 heading into the final matchday.

Match preview

Sitting third in the group with one game remaining, Albania are currently occupying a relegation playoff place and would need to beat a League C side in March to save their second-tier status.

Only inferior goal difference separates them from second-placed Georgia, though, while Czech Republic are one point clear of both, so an Albanian victory on Tuesday evening could even see them snatch top spot.

Sylvinho's side are still in the hunt for automatic promotion due to a tense 0-0 draw with the Czechs on Saturday, which took their tally up to seven points so far.

After opening their latest Nations League campaign with a 2-1 away win over Ukraine, thanks to goals from Ardian Ismajli and Jasir Asani, Albania then lost back-to-back games before beating Georgia.

Now, for the second time in three days, the Kuqezinjte will perform for their home fans in Tirana, so they will hope to use that advantage and make the leap up to League A.

Ukraine's campaign started with that defeat to Albania two months ago, and they have won just one game since then - when Mykhaylo Mudryk's goal claimed maximum points against Georgia.

Yet, due to the tightly-packed state of the Group 1 table, they are still not out of contention for a top-two finish.

If they lose - or draw for the third time - then Serhiy Rebrov's side are bound for League C, but victory will guarantee at least a promotion playoff.

They kept themselves in the mix by sharing the spoils with Georgia last time out, letting a long-held lead slip during the final 15 minutes in Batumi.

While Ukraine have recovered impressively from losing twice in September, they are now facing a must-win finale on Albanian turf and cannot afford to slip up again.

Albania Nations League form:

W

L

L

W

D

Albania form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

W

D

Ukraine Nations League form:

L

L

W

D

D

Ukraine form (all competitions):

D

L

L

W

D

D

Team News

First-choice strikers Armando Broja and Rey Manaj are still missing from Albania's squad, so Indrit Tuci saw off the challenge of Mirlind Daku to start up front on Saturday.

Besiktas forward Ernest Muci has been hampered by a foot injury suffered in training, but he may now come into contention.

Without experienced defenders Marash Kumbulla and Berat Djimsiti this month, Sylvinho paired Ardian Ismajli and Arlind Ajeti at the back last time out, and he could do so again on Tuesday.

If captain Elseid Hysaj - who plays his club football for Lazio - is recalled to the starting XI, he would feature behind an Italy-based engine room run by Lecce's Ylber Ramadani and Inter Milan playmaker Kristjan Asllani.

Meanwhile, Ukraine will be without Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin again, as Benfica's Anatoliy Trubin continues in goal.

Girona winger Viktor Tsygankov and Dynamo Kyiv trio Vitaliy Buyalskyi, Andriy Yarmolenko and Oleksandr Pikhalyonok are also sidelined.

Artem Dovbyk should spearhead the visitors' attack, with support from speedy winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, who has struggled for minutes in the Premier League this season but generally enjoys the trust of Serhiy Rebrov.

Albania possible starting lineup:

Strakosha; Hysaj, Ismajli, Ajeti, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani; Asani, Bajrami, Uzuni; Tuci

Ukraine possible starting lineup:

Trubin; Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Brazhko; Hutsulyak, Shaparenko, Sudakov, Mudryk; Dovbyk

We say: Albania 1-1 Ukraine

There is little to choose between these two teams, and Albania rode their luck to claim maximum points when they locked horns in September.

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