Albania and Armenia, who will not be competing at the 2022 World Cup, will both be looking to end the year on a high when they face off in a friendly fixture at the Air Albania Stadium in Tirana on Saturday.

While the Red and Blacks have won only one of their last seven matches on home soil, the Mountaineers have failed to win any of their last 11 away internationals.

Match preview

Albania coach Edoardo Reja pictured on March 28, 2021 © Reuters

Albania narrowly missed out on a 2022 World Cup playoff spot after finishing third in Group I of UEFA qualifying, just two points behind Poland in second place.

The Red and Blacks won six of their 10 qualifiers, including a slender 1-0 home win over European minnows Andorra, which has been their only success in their last 13 international matches across all competitions.

Edoardo Reja's side picked up only two points from a possible 12 available in their UEFA Nations League group, but they avoided relegation to League C after Russia were expelled from the group phase amid the war in Ukraine.

Albania have since failed to win any of their last three friendly internationals, including Wednesday's 3-1 home defeat against Italy. Ardian Ismajli has put the Red and Blacks into a surprise lead, but the Azzurri fought back with Giovanni Di Lorenzo's equaliser followed by a brace from Vincenzo Grifo.

Reja and co will be confident of returning to winning ways on Saturday as they have won each of their last three meetings with Armenia, scoring at least twice on every occasion.

Armenia's Joaquin Caparros pictured on March 25, 2021 © Reuters

Like Albania, Armenia have also endured a difficult run of form as they have won only two of their last 18 international matches in all tournaments.

Indeed, two 1-0 home wins over Montenegro and Republic of Ireland early last year took place either side of a humbling 9-0 away loss against Norway, their biggest-ever defeat since they gained independence in 1991.

Joaquin Caparros's side, who finished fourth in their UEFA qualification group for the World Cup, were relegated to League C of the Nations League in September after finishing bottom with a record of one victory and five defeats.

Armenia were at least able to end a four-game losing streak when they played out a 2-2 friendly draw away against Kosovo on Wednesday, although they would have come away with a victory had they not conceded a 93rd-minute penalty.

The Mountaineers are yet to win in 2022 after 10 attempts, but they will view Saturday's game against fellow strugglers Albania as a good opportunity to end the year on a high.

Albania form (all competitions):

Armenia form (all competitions):

Team News

Armando Broja in action for Albania on September 27, 2022 © Reuters

Albania and Chelsea striker Armando Broja has been forced to withdraw from the squad after picking up an ankle injury in the second half of Wednesday's defeat against Italy.

Myrto Uzuni has also returned to his club Granada, so Xhuliano Skuka is set to start in attack alongside either Tedi Cara or Ernest Muci, who have both won only one international cap.

The likes of Napoli's Elseid Hysaj, Roma's Marash Kumbulla and Espanyol's Keidi Bare, who all started against Italy, are expected to feature again on Saturday.

As for Armenia, Varazdat Haroyan and Kamo Hovhannisyan are two of the most experienced members of Caparros's squad and they are set to keep their places in the back four with Styopa Mkrtchyan and Hakob Hakobyan.

Without the presence of former captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who announced his international retirement in March, Artak Dashyan is set to provide the creative spark and he could be joined in midfield by Sergey Mkrtchyan, who came off the bench to make his international debut against Kosovo.

Albania possible starting lineup:
Berisha; Kumbulla, Ismajli, Lenjani; Hysaj, Abrashi, Asllani, Bare, Lenjani; Cara, Skuka

Armenia possible starting lineup:
Buchnev; Hovhannisyan, Haroyan, Mkrtchyan, Hakobyan; Dashyan, Grigoryan, Mkrtchyan; Babayan, Bichakhchyan, Shaghoyan

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We say: Albania 1-1 Armenia

A closely-fought contest is set to take place between two nations who will fancy their chances of success on Saturday. With Albania missing key strikers Broja and Uzuni, we can see Armenia coming away with a share of the spoils in Tirana.

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