San Marino vs Albania Prediction 29 September 2026
🔊 San Marino are playing in League C of the Nations League for the first time, and their opening evening showed just how much the level has risen: on Saturday they lost 7-0 at home to Finland. Albania beat Belarus on the same day, giving Rolando Maran his first official win in charge of the national team. Now one of the main contenders for top spot in the group comes to them.
Head-to-Head
📊 The head-to-head record between these two sides is short and one-sided: Albania have beaten San Marino four times without conceding a single goal. The first two meetings were friendlies, in 2006 and 2014, and on both occasions Albania won by three goals. The teams met twice more in 2022 World Cup qualifying. In March 2021 in Serravalle, San Marino lost to Albania 0-2, and in September in Elbasan, Albania ran out 5-0 winners. Albania have never won by more than five goals in any match in the history of this fixture.
Head-to-head statistics San Marino - Albania
San Marino Team Overview
San Marino sit bottom of Group C1 without a point after the first round, with a goal difference of minus seven. Their debut in League C was difficult from the off: Finland scored on the fifth minute and led by three goals by the 33rd. The hosts did have their chances, though. According to Roberto Cevoli, after conceding the second goal his side created three or four opportunities but failed to take any of them.
It is now nine consecutive official defeats for Cevoli's side: before Saturday, they had played eight World Cup 2026 qualifying matches, scoring twice and conceding 39. There is little time to reflect - Albania come to Serravalle in three days.
Match Results: San Marino
Albania Team Overview
Albania began their Nations League campaign under a new manager. Rolando Maran was appointed in May, after the national side lost to Poland in a World Cup play-off. The federation gave the Italian a clear objective: win the group and qualify for Euro 2028. The opening round went well - Albania have three points and sit second after the first matchday, with Finland ahead only on goal difference. On 3 October, Albania travel to Finland, their direct rivals for top spot in the group.
In Tirana, Albania beat Belarus 2-0, with both goals coming in the first half. Kristjan Asllani converted a penalty, and then in added time Ernest Muçi doubled the lead, finishing a counter-attack after a pass from Elseid Hysaj. Albania controlled the second half, with Taulant Seferi missing the best chance for a third goal.
Match Results: Albania
Latest news
San Marino
❓ Cevoli's biggest loss is Alessandro Golinucci. The captain received a straight red card for a kick from behind on Adrian Svanberg, VAR upheld the decision, and the midfielder will miss the match against Albania through suspension. Golinucci is the most experienced player in the current squad. The options to replace him in central midfield include Lorenzo Lazzari, who spent the entire Saturday match on the bench, and Marcello Mularoni, who came on in the 59th minute. On a more positive note, Cevoli highlighted the return of Simone Giocondo and the debut of 2007-born midfielder Enea Della Balda. Matteo Vitaioli, who has 100 caps, and forward Filippo Berardi were not included in the extended 27-man squad.
Albania
❓ Maran came into the Nations League with several players unavailable. Defender Klisман missed the Belarus match through injury, and Ivan Balliu was also unable to feature. Midfielder Qazim Laci picked up an injury on the eve of that game. The coaching staff have yet to confirm whether any of the three will be fit by Tuesday. Armando Broja, Nedim Bajrami and Jasir Asani were not included in the September squad. On the other hand, Rey Manaj, Ernest Muci and Marash Kumbulla have returned from injury, and goalkeeper Etrit Berisha came back into the squad after two years away - and kept a clean sheet in Tirana. The staff are keeping a close eye on Kristjan Asllani: he trained individually ahead of the Belarus match but went on to play 86 minutes. The day after that game, Maran split the group - those who had played against Belarus worked on recovery, while the rest trained in full. Albania have no suspended players.
Predicted Lineups
📋 Predicted starting XI - San Marino: Colombo - Fabbri, Cevoli, Pasolini, Tosi - Meloni, L. Capicchioni, Lazzari - Giacopetti, Zannoni - Nanni.
📋 Predicted starting XI - Albania: Berisha - Hysaj, Ismajli, Gjimshiti, Pilo - Seferi, Asllani, Ramadani - Muci, Manaj, Hoxha.
⚽️ Goals prediction
Attack is San Marino's biggest problem. They have failed to score in 6 of their last 7 official matches, and four times in a row at home. The only time they found the net during that run was in November away in Romania, and they still lost heavily. Albania have been solid at the back: in 2026 World Cup qualifying, all four of their wins have come without conceding. The pick is San Marino to Score: No.
🚩 Corners prediction
San Marino concede a lot of corners at home: across their last ten matches, they have taken 22 corners themselves while their opponents have taken 56. Albania's balance is even: 35 corners taken against 36 conceded over the same period. Seven or more corners is rare for Albania - they have taken fewer than that in 26 of their last 27 matches, and in 10 of their last 11 away. The pick is Albania Team Total Corners - Under 6.5.
🟨 Yellow cards prediction
The appointed referee is Hungarian Mihály Kaprály, who has already taken charge of Albania - he refereed their friendly against Azerbaijan in June 2024. The pattern of bookings in this fixture is clear. Over their last ten matches, San Marino players have collected 23 yellow cards while their opponents have received 13. Against Albania, opponents also pick up cards: over the same period they have accumulated 23 bookings. On Tuesday, the hosts will spend most of the match defending, and fouling a team that controls possession is unavoidable. The pick is San Marino Team Total Yellow Cards - Over 1.5.
🚀 Player statistic pick
Kristjan Asllani has scored in two of Albania's last four official matches - against Andorra in November and against Belarus on Saturday. In Tirana, it was he who stepped up to take the penalty and converted. San Marino do give opponents those opportunities: on Saturday, Marcello Mularoni brought down Robin Lod just outside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. The risk here is possible rotation - the midfielder could start on the bench. The pick is Asllani to Score.
😱 Risky pick
San Marino's last six official matches have produced at least four goals combined, and Finland punished the hosts seven times three days ago. Albania, though, are a different kind of team. In the Nations League they have not scored more than two goals in 11 consecutive matches, and seven away in the competition. The risk is genuine: the hosts' defence is weak, and a third goal for the visitors could come without much difficulty. The pick is Albania Team Total - Under 2.5 at 2.39*.
🎯 Reliable pick
San Marino almost always fade after the break: they have lost the second half in 8 of their last 9 official matches. The most recent example was Saturday, when Finland scored four times in the second half. Albania have options off the bench - against Belarus, Mirto Uzuni, Mirlind Daku and Anis Mehmeti all came on after the interval. The odds are modest, but so is the risk. The pick is Albania to Win the 2nd Half at 1.27*.
👀 If the match doesn't go to script
The likely scenario is Albania in possession, San Marino sitting deep, and the visitors comfortably seeing it out with a two-goal win. An early goal changes that. If Albania score in the first 15 minutes, the hosts will have to come out of their shell and leave space in behind. The scoreline could then open up, and in-play it would be worth keeping an eye on Total Goals - Over 3.5 and Albania Team Total - Over 2.5.
*Odds are indicative and may vary across different bookmakers
📌 Editorial Prediction
Albania have not been involved in high-scoring games for some time: there have been fewer than four goals combined in 17 consecutive official matches for them. Away from home the run is shorter but still notable - nine in a row. Albania themselves are a big part of the reason: they have scored more than two goals in just one of their last 21 official matches. Under Marana the pattern is the same so far: on Saturday against Belarus the team had 20 shots but only three on target. We expect a win for the visitors without a heavy margin. The bet is Total Goals - Under 3.5. Predicted score: 0-2.
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Betting Tips: San Marino - Albania
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