Euro 2024: Albania x Spain, Match Preview, Team News, Odds and Predictions(24/06/2024)

Spain will play Albania at Merkur Spiel-Arena, hoping to maintain their perfect record in Group B. Star players should relax for the final group match since La Furia Roja has already secured the top spot in the rankings. While Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, and Mikel Merino should all be brought back up to the starting lineup, Man City midfielder Rodri is suspended for one game.

While the Albanians played well in a 2-2 draw with Croatia, it is doubtful their performance will enable them to secure a place in the knockout rounds. Given the depth of the Spanish team, an away victory should be considered even if manager Luis de la Fuente will be experimenting with his lineup this time. Sylvinho's squad has no new injury concerns going into the Merkur Spiel-Arena match. Spain outplayed Albania 3-0 in their most recent competitive matchup.

Albania x Spain Team News

Currently serving as manager is Sylvinho. With his ankle problem, Albania forward Jasir Asani is in serious jeopardy. For the moment, Sivasspor forward Rey Manaj is pushing the envelope.

Conversely, Spain will field the same team they played against Italy last time. Since Nacho is still battling muscle issues, Aymeric Laporte should replace the Real Madrid player. Following his record-breaking two yellow cards in two straight games, Manchester City midfielder Rodri will be suspended for Albania.

Head To Head And Previous Matches

After previous goals from Qazim Laci and Andrej Kramaric, Albanian midfielder Klaus Gjasula had supposedly consigned his country to the most heartbreaking losses against Croatia, scoring a terrible own goal.

Just four minutes after coming from the bench, Gjasula deflected into his own goal. Still, at the Volksparkstadion, there would be a 95th-minute twist to the tale as the 34-year-old made up for his earlier infraction with the most incredible last-gasp equalizers.

Albania would be packing their bags and getting ready to leave their hotel early had Gjasula not made up for his transgression in the last seconds. However, Sylvinho's third-placed team still had a chance to make their first-ever knockout participation at a big event.

Albania is currently in the bronze medal position—above Croatia on goal difference—and will place second if they can shock the Spaniards. Croatia defeats Italy by no more than two goals. It is also not impossible for them to make it to the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Such possibilities, of course, first depend on the Red and Blacks achieving what neither Croatia nor Italy have been able to accomplish at the current tournament so far - taking a point off or even scoring against Spain - but Luis de la Fuente's team might be excused for letting their guard down somewhat here.

In Spain's titanic match against Italy, the two teams who have won three of the previous four European Championships, own goals were also the order of the day five days after they dominated Croatia 3-0, setting down quite the early marker in the process.

But La Roja had the holders' number all evening on June 20. With 55 minutes gone, Riccardo Calafiori turned the ball into his own goal to ensure Spain's advancement to the next round as group champions.

Although they did fly a little under the radar before the competition started, Spain has more than shown its credentials as a real contender for European supremacy, with six points accumulated, four goals scored, and zero surrendered. They have also made a joke about the so-called group of death so far.

De la Fuente's team will only have to play one of the best third-placed teams from Groups A, D, E, or F in their last-16 match if they win Group B, but that match might come before an exciting quarterfinal against hosts Germany on July 5.

For now, however, La Roja—who have won all eight of their previous men's internationals versus Albania—want to extend their commendable winning run to five matches across all competitions and finish Group B with a 100% success record.

Our Predictions

Spain to win @1.46 on Sky247

Spain's depth allows De la Fuente to make double-figure changes and yet have his team win handily in Dusseldorf, even against an Albanian squad that still has something to play for.

Although Sylvinho's squad has played well against Croatia and Italy, even a second-string Roja team—which is full of players with points to prove, it should be mentioned—should be too formidable as Albania is ready to exit at the first hurdle.

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