Tonight against San Marino, Albania seek a second straight win

The Albanian national team take the field in San Marino tonight, with the clear objective of a second consecutive Nations League win.

After the 2-0 opening success against Belarus, the red-and-blacks want to follow up with another positive result and aim for promotion to Division B. Away statistics also give reason for optimism.

The red-and-blacks have won three of their last four away matches, all by the score of 0-1.

A win by more than one goal would be the first away victory by such a margin since June 2023.

Facing them will be San Marino, modest on paper, who come off a heavy 7-0 home defeat to Finland.

The representatives have not won in 15 straight matches, with 14 defeats and just one draw, conceding 56 goals in that period.

The last victory was also in the Nations League, against Liechtenstein two years ago. Albania also have the advantage of history in head-to-head meetings.

The red-and-blacks have won all four previous encounters with San Marino, with a record of 13 goals scored and none conceded.

Coach Maran is expected to rely on the 4-2-3-1 formation, the same used against Belarus, but there may also be small changes and rotations to preserve energy.

The dilemmas are in several departments, where Mitaj and Pilo are believed to be fighting for the starting shirt, while there may also be room for Uzuni and Mehmeti, as well as Daku, who gave positive signals in his few minutes against Belarus.

Now, with the first three points in the bag, the objective is even more concrete: two straight wins at the start of the Nations League, something Albania has never achieved before in this competition.