Preview: Poland vs. Andorra - prediction, team news, lineups

Poland will host Andorra in their second World Cup 2022 qualifier on Sunday evening hoping to record their first victory in Group I.

The hosts head into this fixture after drawing a six-goal thriller away in Hungary on Thursday, while the visitors narrowly lost to Albania on home soil.

Match preview

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Robert Lewandowski 's 83rd-minute equaliser rescued a point for Poland, who earned a 3-3 draw against Hungary in an entertaining World Cup Group I qualifier.

Paulo Sousa 's first international match in charge did not get off to the best of starts, considering that the Poles did not register a single shot on target before Adam Szalai doubled Hungary's lead in the 52nd minute.

However, two inspired substitutions drew Poland level as Krzysztof Piatek and Kamil Jozwiak scored within two minutes of each other, which gave the visitors hope of snatching all three points.

The hosts then thought they had won it when Willi Orban restored their lead with 12 minutes left to play, but it was Lewandowski who found the net from his first attempt on goal to claim a point for Poland in Budapest.

The Bayern Munich striker has now taken his goal tally for this season to a remarkable 45 from just 41 appearances in all competitions.

Poland will feel the happier of the two nations coming away from that thrilling encounter, having trailed for the majority of the match, but they will now look to ensure that there are no slip-ups on Sunday when they face European minnows Andorra.

Poland have only ever faced Andorra once before, winning an international friendly 4-0 in June 2012, and securing their first three points in Group I with a convincing victory is to be expected in Warsaw.

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Andorra are still searching for their first international victory since October 2019 after losing 1-0 at home to Albania on Thursday evening.

Ermir Lenjani rifled in the only goal of the game just before half time, which secured all three points for the visitors at the Estadi Nacional.

Despite having only one shot on target and just 26% possession, manager Koldo Alvarez will have been pleased that his side held their own and stayed in the match until the very end.

Andorra head into their clash with Poland after winning just one of their last 31 World Cup qualifiers, losing 29 of those matches and conceding 93 goals in the process.

Alvarez's men are not expected to claim any points on Sunday and are more likely to target a positive result when they face fellow European minnows San Marino later this year.

Poland World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

D

Poland form (all competitions):

W

D

W

L

L

D

Andorra World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

L

Andorra form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

L

L

Team News

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Andorra are unlikely to make too many changes to their starting lineup but one player who could be brought in is experienced winger Sergi Moreno, replacing either Ricard Fernandez or Jordi Alaez.

Alvarez will most likely stick with a five-man defence, including centre-back trio Max Llovera, Marc Vales and Moises San Nicolas, who have a combined 164 international appearances between them.

Poland used a 3-4-1-2 formation against Hungary with Sebastian Szymanski and Arkadiusz Reca operating as wing-backs. However, given the quality of Sunday's opponents, Sousa is likely to adopt a more offensive approach which could see him use wingers in these positions instead.

Derby County's Jozwiak, who came off the bench to score on Thursday, may be handed a start ahead of Szymanski, while Norwich City's Przemyslaw Placheta or West Bromwich Albion's Kamil Grosicki will be competing to start ahead of Reca.

Barnsley defender Michal Helik made his international debut on Thursday but after conceding two goals, he was substituted just before the hour mark, and the 25-year-old will be hoping to keep his place in the starting lineup ahead of experienced centre-back Kamil Glik.

Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich remains out, having tested positive for coronavirus so Brighton & Hove Albion's Jakub Moder and Napoli's Piotr Zielinski are expected to keep their places in the starting lineup.

Hertha Berlin striker Piatek, who scored with his first touch after coming off the bench against Hungary, could replace Arkadiusz Milik up front.

Poland possible starting lineup:

Szczesny; Bereszynski, Helik, Bednarek; Joswiak, Zielinski, Krychowiak, Moder, Grosicki; Piatek, Lewandowski

Andorra possible starting lineup:

Gomes; Rubio, Llovera, Vales, San Nicolas, Cervos; A. Martinez, Rebus, Vieira, Monero; Alaez

We say: Poland 5-0 Andorra

Poland will feel that Sunday's fixture at home to Andorra is the perfect way for them to bounce back from their midweek draw in Budapest.

Sousa's side have plenty of firepower, and they should have no issues in securing a commanding victory in Warsaw, which would extend Andorra's 13-game winless run.

Top tip

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