Preview: Albania vs. Hungary - prediction, team news, lineups

Following heavy midweek defeats, both Albania and visitors Hungary will look to stay in the running for a World Cup Qualifying playoff place when they meet on Sunday.

While the hosts were eventually well beaten in Poland, the Hungarians were taught a lesson in their own backyard by a rampant England side, so neither can afford to give ground at Arena Kombetare.

Match preview

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Despite a strong start to their qualifying campaign for Qatar 2022, Hungary saw their hopes of reaching next year's global finals blown off course when they were crushed 4-0 by Euro 2020 finalists England in Budapest.

During a match which featured several interventions from sections of the home crowd - including jeering and racist chanting - they collapsed after a goalless first half, with Gareth Southgate's men running out easy winners in the end.

Such a setback could well have implications for their fortunes this weekend, as the squad managed by Italian coach Marco Rossi will undoubtedly be unsettled, after having come into this international period in a rich vein of form.

Hungary held their own in the European Championship's 'Group of Death' - taking a point apiece from world champions France and their predecessors Germany - before ultimately finishing fourth. That after coming into the continental championships on an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

World Cup qualification had also got off to a positive beginning, as the Magyars settled for a 3-3 draw with Poland after conceding a late equaliser, before downing minnows San Marino and Andorra by three-goal margins on each occasion.

However, they now travel to Tirana locked on points with the Poles and just one ahead of their hosts, so at least a draw is essential to keep their bid to finish runners-up alive - with a subsequent playoff shot at their nation's first finals place since 1986 being the ultimate prize.

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With England set to coast towards qualification with their customary ease, Albania remain in the mix for second place during this international triple-header, which could be decisive in deciding the identity of those nations left standing come next year.

Seeking to reach a first-ever World Cup finals, the Eagles took a midweek trip to Warsaw, where they were picked off by Poland, who were 4-1 victors despite having only four shots on target throughout the 90 minutes.

As ever, Robert Lewandowski was on hand to provide a clinical edge, and the Bayern Munich striker netted the first on a disappointing night for Edy Reja's men.

They now host the Hungarians and then the lowly Sammarinese - who are the only team they have beaten throughout their past five games - so the opportunity to bounce back immediately is certainly at hand.

Reja, a former coach of Lazio and Napoli, is now a senior statesman of the game at the age of 75, and while he has forged a solid unit during his two years in charge, he has struggled to get his forwards firing of late.

In their last six outings - including fixtures versus some of the lowest-ranked nations on the continent - Albania have registered only five goals, so some final-third inspiration must somehow be found.

Team News

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Albania's lack of penalty-box potency has held them back recently, but Sokol Cikalleshi scored their only goal of the post-season friendlies and netted his 12th international strike on Thursday, so is set to start up front.

Edy Reja has had his creative department augmented by Nedim Bajrami winning the right to switch nations, after representing Swiss teams from youth level through to the Under-21s, and the Empoli playmaker could feature after sitting out the midweek defeat.

Torino goalkeeper Etrit Berisha has generally been favoured over Lazio reserve stopper Thomas Strakosha and should start on Sunday, with another Serie A-based quartet - Elseid Hysaj, Berat Djimsiti, Ardian Ismajli and Marash Kumbulla set to line up at the back.

Meanwhile, Hungary's qualification hopes were boosted by the inclusion of star man Dominik Szoboszlai in their squad, after being forced to miss the Euros through injury, and he will continue in support of target man Adam Szalai, in a probable 3-4-2-1 formation.

Adam Nagy returns from suspension and could contend for a place in midfield, should Marco Rossi opt for some rotation amid three matches within a week.

The defensive absences of Loic Nego (COVID-19) and Gergo Lovrencsics (ankle injury) mean recent Wolverhampton Wanderers signing Bendeguz Bolla - since loaned to Grasshoppers - should retain his place out wide, with Szoboszlai's RB Leipzig colleagues, goalkeeper Peter Gulasci and centre-back Willi Orban, starting behind him.

Albania possible starting lineup:
Berisha; Kumbulla, Djimsiti, Ismajli; Hysaj, Gjasula, Abrashi, Bare, Trashi; Balaj, Cikalleshi

Hungary possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Botka, Orban, At. Szalai; Bolla, Schafer, Kleinheisler, Fiola; Sallai, Szoboszlai; Ad. Szalai

We say: Albania 1-2 Hungary

Hungary's chastening loss during the week is likely to be a blip - 45 minutes of madness amid an ongoing period of improvement - so they are favourites to overcome Albania's challenge on Sunday.

Though both sides can boast a decent sprinkling of players with experience in Europe's top five leagues, the visitors' greater individual quality in the final third can make the difference.