Albania – Georgia

Albanians will gain home advantage against Georgians

The real triumphants of the opening round of League B will meet in Tirana on Tuesday. Being in the same group as Ukraine and Czech Republic, these teams did not look like favourites for the first round matches. However, the Georgians, apparently, have not lost the spirit that allowed them to perform successfully at their debut EURO this summer. Kvaratskhelia and company looked better in the first half of their home game with the Czech Republic, creating a one-goal advantage through a penalty converted by Khvicha. From the 53rd to 66th minute, the Georgians inflicted an incredible "beating" on their opponents, scoring three times in that short period of time. As a result, the Czechs, who were favourites before the match, managed to score only a prestige goal - 1:4. Albania played an away match with Ukraine in Czech Prague. In the first half, the rivals created few chances and scored no goals. The second half started with a Ukrainian goal, to which Albanians responded in the middle of the half with two accurate shots by Ismayli and Asani. The rest of the time Ukraine tried to get back, but Albania showed a confident defensive game and achieved a victory - 2:1. Bookmakers have identified the hosts as shaky favourites for the upcoming match, offering a slight slope of odds in favour of their victory. Albania showed themselves well at the EURO, but in the "group of death" with Spain, Italy and Croatia expectedly took the last place. Albanians did not lose to any of the opponents with a difference of more than one goal, and the Croatians took away points, which affected the future prospects of the winners of the last two World Cups in the group. Albania have had a well-coordinated squad for quite some time, which is particularly dangerous for opponents in Tirana. The Czech Republic and Poland were beaten here in the last continental qualification. Georgia shone at their first ever EURO. In the group stage, the team rallied from match to match, eventually beating Portugal 2-0. After beating Spain halfway through the first half, the Georgians left the EURO in the first round of the playoffs with their heads held high. Georgia have put together a good team, but in the conditions of an away game against an equally well-coordinated opponent they are unlikely to win.