Albania host Finland at the Air Albania Stadium in Tirana on Thursday 12 November, a 7.45pm (UK time) Nations League meeting with the group’s leaders looking to avenge a defeat from earlier in the campaign.
Finland edged a feisty reverse fixture 2-1 in Helsinki last month, but Albania have recovered to sit top of Group C1 and start as favourites on home soil. We have worked through the Albania vs Finland odds for our best bets, two premium picks and a score prediction below.
Premium Tips
We have run the rule over the Albania vs Finland odds and expect a tight, low-scoring home win, with Albania’s leading marksman well placed to make the difference in front of a passionate Tirana crowd.
| Premium Tip | Odds | Why we’re backing it |
|---|---|---|
| Rey Manaj to score anytime | 7/4 (Sky Bet) | Rey Manaj is Albania’s main source of goals and needed only four minutes to find the net in the reverse fixture in Helsinki, so he goes into this one in good touch. Rolando Maran’s side have built their push to the top of the group on a reliable attack, and with home advantage behind them they should fashion enough chances to get their talisman on the scoresheet. Finland lost their last outing 1-0 at Belarus and can be got at, making 7/4 with Sky Bet an appealing price on Manaj scoring anytime. |
| Albania to win to nil | 15/8 (BoyleSports) | Albania have been well drilled at the back during their climb to the summit of Group C1, keeping clean sheets in wins over Belarus and San Marino. Finland, meanwhile, were shut out in a 1-0 defeat at Belarus last time out and have not always travelled well in this group. With Albania strong at home and Finland short of a cutting edge on the road, a home win to nil looks a value play at 15/8 with BoyleSports. |
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware — gambleaware.org · Odds correct at time of publishing.
How Albania go into the game
Albania sit top of Group C1 on nine points, having won three of their four matches to date under Rolando Maran, who took charge earlier this year. They opened with a win over Belarus and back-to-back victories against San Marino either side of their trip to Finland, snatching a late 2-1 success in the reverse of that San Marino fixture through a stoppage-time penalty.
The one blot on the record came in Helsinki, where Albania went down 2-1 after having Etrit Berisha sent off inside the opening half-hour. Maran’s men will fancy putting that right at home, where Rey Manaj’s goals have been central to their strong start to the campaign.
How Finland go into the game
Finland travel to Tirana sitting just behind the hosts on seven points under Jacob Friis, having made a solid start to life in Group C1. The Danish coach oversaw an opening win over San Marino before his side claimed arguably their best result of the group, a 2-1 home victory over Albania in which Leo Walta struck twice.
The Finns were brought back down to earth last time out, however, losing 1-0 away to Belarus and failing to find the net. Friis will want a far sharper display in the final third if his side are to complete a double over the group leaders and keep the pressure on at the top.
Albania vs Finland head-to-head
These sides met only last month, with Finland claiming a 2-1 win in Helsinki as Leo Walta scored twice and Albania’s task was made harder by Etrit Berisha’s early dismissal. Rey Manaj was on target for the visitors that night, and Albania head into the return determined to turn the tables on home soil and protect their place at the top of the group.
Albania vs Finland predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 5/6 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Albania top the group on nine points with three wins from four, and home advantage in Tirana counts for plenty. |
| Both teams to score – No | 4/5 (BoyleSports) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Albania kept clean sheets against Belarus and San Marino, while Finland were shut out in a 1-0 loss at Belarus last time out. |
| Under 2.5 goals | 8/13 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Albania have conceded just three times in four group games and should keep things tight in front of their own supporters. |
| Albania 1-0 Finland | 5/1 (bet365) | ⭐⭐ | Rey Manaj scored in the reverse and leads the Albania line, with the hosts fancied to grind out a narrow win. |
Albania vs Finland score prediction
Albania were the better side for long spells in Helsinki before a red card shaped that contest, and on home soil they will back themselves to put it right against a Finland team that lacked a cutting edge in its last outing. We expect Maran’s leaders to control proceedings and edge a cagey affair, with Rey Manaj the man most likely to make the breakthrough for the hosts. Score prediction: Albania 1-0 Finland.
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