The eyes of Albanians, but not only, will be directed to Leskovac tonight to experience the emotions of the most important match of the World Cup qualifiers in Group K, between Serbia and Albania.
A 90-minute match that goes beyond what the field will produce, due to the history and tension involving the two nations.
Even international media have echoed this meeting, mentioning the shameful event of 2014. At that time, only one half of the game was played in Belgrade, only to be interrupted after riots caused by local fans.
Security measures are extreme, with around 5,000 police forces, while on the roofs of tall buildings there will be surveillance with snipers and drone experts.
Both teams are looking for crucial points for a place in the 2026 World Cup qualifying round. After an impressive start without defeat, 2 wins and 1 draw, and without conceding a goal in their first three matches, Serbia suffered a major blow in their final match, where they were beaten 5-0 by England in Belgrade. It was their first home defeat since September 2023, somewhat dampening Dragan Stojkovi?'s side's hopes of finishing top of the group. However, Serbia remain a formidable opponent on home soil, having kept five clean sheets in a row before their clash with England.
On the other hand, Albania goes into this challenge after a consistent form, with five consecutive matches without defeat, 3 wins and 2 draws, including a minimal 1-0 victory over Latvia. Silvynho's red and blacks hope to record a third consecutive victory for the first time since October 2023. Away form is not among the best: only one point from two matches away from home in Group K, which makes the challenge of Leskovac even more complicated.
But the positive results in recent transfers, 3 wins in 6 meetings, show that Albania has learned to cope with the pressure away from Tirana. This will be the fourth official meeting between the two national teams, with the Serbs having won 1, drawn one and lost the other at the CAS gates.