World Cup
2025-10-11 - Serbia vs Albania
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: World Cup Qualifier
Saturday 11th October 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Serbia
There was a real sense of expectation and optimism in Belgrade when Serbia were hosting England last month in a big World Cup Qualifier, but they never really got started. Two goals in three first half minutes gave England full control of the fixture and now Serbia are under pressure to respond in their bid to secure at least a Play Off spot for a place in the World Cup Finals next summer.
It is perhaps quite strange to note that Serbia have reached three of the last four World Cup Finals considering UEFA have a smaller allocation at that tournament, while at the same time failing to reach the European Championship Finals until 2024. They did not make any impact in Germany in the summer of 2024 having been beaten in the Group Stage, but Serbia have been avoided Relegation from League A of the Nations League since then.
Serbia had been unbeaten in 7 games in all competitions since losing in Spain in the Nations League, but that run was ended emphatically by England in a 0-5 home defeat. The nation had been unbeaten in 7 home games in all competitions before that defeat to England and Serbia had won 3 of 4 home fixtures.
Both Nikola Milenkovic and Sasa Lukic are serving suspensions.
Albania
Thirty years ago it would have been an achievement for Albania to win two Qualifiers in any Group they were competing in, but the expectations are much greater these days. This is a nation that has competed in two of the last three European Championship Finals and Albania are keen to reach the World Cup Finals for the first time.
With England looking like they are going to wrap up top spot in this Group, Albania are currently holding 2nd place which would see them enter the World Cup Play Offs next year. They are only a point clear of Serbia, who have a game in hand, and that may put some pressure on Albania to do more than avoid defeat here and actually chase the three points.
Albania are unbeaten in 5 games in all competitions since opening this Qualifying Group with a 2-0 defeat in England, but they will need some big results to hold onto a top two spot. The team have won 3 of their last 6 away games, but Albania have also suffered a couple of defeats in that time and have been Relegated from League B of the Nations League.
Head to Head
There is little love lost between these nations and the last time they met in Serbia, the fixture had to be abandoned before the end of the first half.
They have met already in this World Cup Group in a game that finished goalless in Tirana.
The last meetings was in the Euro 2016 Qualifying Group- Albania were awarded a 0-3 win by CAS after the game in Serbia could not be completed, but it was Serbia who won 0-2 in the game hosted by Albania in October 2015.
Prediction
Political tensions have always overshadowed certain matches in the Balkans and the rivalry between Albania and Serbia is perhaps the one that heightens things the most.
You need rivalries in sport, but this goes far beyond that and both Serbia and Albania are also trying to earn a spot at the World Cup Finals at the others expense.
Fans are going to make this an incredibly hostile environment for the Albanian team, but Serbia were not able to use that to their advantage when losing 0-5 to England last month.
Prior to that defeat, Serbia had been strong at home though and the pressure is perhaps on Albania to find a win considering they are only narrowly ahead of the Serbs within this Group. The hosts also have a game in hand, which they will be expected to win, and so there can be more patience in the Serbian ranks, even if the fans will want the home team to get forward and embarrass this rival.
The first goal feels important and that will also play into some of the caution, which is perhaps why the under 2.5 goals option is priced so short.
At very slightly better prices, backing at least one of the teams to fail to score looks the approach to take for this World Cup Qualifier.
In 5 of the last 7 away games played by Albania, backing at least one team to fail to score would have returned as a winning selection.
The same can be said for the last 6 Serbia home games, which includes facing the likes of Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria and England. The real credit has to be given to Serbia for keeping out all of those opponents aside from England.
When these nations met in Tirana, the fixture ended goalless- there was a lot of huffing and puffing, but neither team showed a lot of quality in the final third and that could be the case again when they face one another again on Saturday.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Serbia 1-0 Albania
