Albania forward Armando Sadiku. (Photo : Getty Images)
Low-ranked Liechtenstein (0-1-0, 0 points) will try to earn their first win in the 2018 FIFA World Cup UEFA qualifying tournament as they host contending squad Albania (1-0-0, 3 points) this Thursday, Oct. 6 at their home field of Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 8:45 p.m. UTC+2. It can be viewed live online thru Online Thru FuboTV.
Liechtenstein, currently ranked 182nd in the world by FIFA, is not expected to make waves in the tournament as evidenced by the 0-8 thrashing the team experienced in the hands of Spain at the Estadio Reino de León in León also on Sep. 5, as per Daily Mail Online.
The Blue-Reds, coached by manager Rene Pauritsch since 2013, was just no match for the star-studded Spanish squad as they gave up seven goals in the second half of the match after holding La Furia to only one in the first 45 minutes of play.
Big-name club footballers Diego Costa, David Silva, and Alvaro Morata each scored twice during the match while Sergi Roberto and Vitolo also added one each to complete the hosts' eight-goal haul during the match.
Meanwhile, 40th-ranked Albania pulled off a tough 2-1 nipping of 146th-ranked Macedonia also on Sep. 5 at their home field of Loro Boriçi Stadium in Shkodër to open the tournament with a win, Yahoo Sports reported.
The game, which was delayed for 15 hours due to torrential rain, opened with both sides aggressive on both ends of the pitch.
Albania was able to break the deadlock early at the ninth minute with a goal from striker Armando Sadiku to gain the early lead. The 25-year-old FC Zürich forward will not be available for head coach Gianni De Biasi in this match against Liechtenstein for unknown reasons.
Macedonia midfielder Ezgjan Alioski was able to level the count six minutes after the restart to give themselves an opportunity to earn their first point in the tourney, but striker Bekim Balaj netted the winner with only one minute left before full time to snatch the win and three points away from the visitors.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 1-0 win for Albania.
Liechtenstein starting lineup (4-5-1 formation): Jehle; Rechsteiner, Polverino, Kaufmann, Goppel; Salanovic, Martin Buchel, Wieser, Marcel Buchel, Burgmeier; Hasler
Albania starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Berisha; Hysaj, Djimsiti, Mavraj, Agolli; Abrashi, Kukeli, Xhaka; Roshi, Sadiku, Hyka
