Albania vs Poland: Head to head statistics
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Albania vs Poland match preview
With Group E leaders Czechia not in action on matchday six, both of these two know a victory in Tirana would see them end the night in first place.
Albania held Czech Republic to a 1-1 draw in Prague on Thursday, with Nedim Bajrami equalising soon after the home side had taken the lead.
This means Sylvinho’s side are now unbeaten in three, after enjoying victories over the group’s two minnows Moldova and Faroe Islands during the summer.
The Red and Blacks sole major tournament appearance came at Euro 2016 and, given that Albania are unlikely to get into the play-offs, they must finish in the top two of this group to change that fact.
Poland meantime won the reverse fixture back in March, Karol Świderski the night’s only scorer in Warsaw, but the group’s top seeds have been generally unimpressive so far.
On Thursday, Fernando Santos’ side required two late goals from Robert Lewandowski to, in the end, defeat Faroe Islands 2-0 at Stadion Narodowy.
On the road meanwhile, the Eagles are yet to pick up a point, first hammered 3-1 by Czechia on matchday one.
Then, in the summer, despite being 2-0 up and cruising in Chișinău, the White-Reds completing collapsed in the second half, eventually beaten 3-2 by Moldova at Stadionul Zimbru.
This is certainly a concern for Poland, as they seek to feature at a fifth successive Euros, because another defeat away from home here would leave them four points adrift of the qualification spots.
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Albania team news
In the continued absence of Armando Broja, Sokol Cikalleshi will lead the line.
Etrit Berisha will captain the side in goal, while he and Elseid Hysaj will both earn their 79th caps, closing in on Lorik Cana’s national record of 93.
Poland team news
Robert Lewandowski took his tally to 81 international goals on Thursday, one of which came in a 4-1 victory over Albania in September 2021.
In attack, Arkadiusz Milik is likely to keep his place as Lewandowski’s partner, chosen over Karol Świderski, who bagged the winner when Albania visited Warsaw in March.
Elsewhere, midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak will becoming just the sixth Polish man to reach 100 caps.
Matty Cash could return at right-back, displacing Bartosz Bereszyński, thereby joining Jakub Kiwior and Jan Bednarek along the back-line.