San Marino vs Albania: A Different Kind of Test After Two Very Different Openings

San Marino’s first night in League C ended with a heavy 7-0 defeat to Finland, but the scoreline did not erase several moments in which Roberto Cevoli’s side showed the determination to compete.
Albania began their own campaign with the opposite outcome, beating Belarus 2-0 at Air Albania after goals from Kristjan Asllani and Ernest Muçi settled the contest before half-time.
The second round therefore brings two teams carrying very different results into the San Marino Stadium, with Albania arriving on three points and San Marino still searching for their first point of the campaign.
UEFA lists the fixture as part of Group C1, with the match scheduled for Tuesday, 29 September at 20:45 CET in Serravalle.
There is also a longer-term element to the fixture because Albania will host San Marino again on 6 October, making this the first of two meetings between the sides within the same international window.
For San Marino, the immediate objective is to respond to Finland with a more competitive performance; for Albania, the challenge is maintaining concentration while managing four Nations League matches across a compressed schedule.

San Marino’s preparation has been shaped by the need for a quick reset after playing a man down against Finland following Alessandro Golinucci’s dismissal.
The official federation report confirms that Edoardo Colombo, Filippo Fabbri, Michele Cevoli, Marco Pasolini, Alessandro Tosi and Nicola Nanni all featured in the starting side against Finland, while several others came from the bench.
Cevoli has called specifically for a change in mentality, saying he wants the team to show the courage they had demonstrated before the Finland match rather than allowing the previous result to dictate their approach.
Albania have a more experienced structure, with Berat Gjimshiti, Elseid Hysaj, Ardian Ismajli, Kristjan Asllani and Ylber Ramadani providing a strong spine around which Maran can build.
Their opening victory also showed an ability to control the match after establishing a two-goal advantage, while Rey Manaj hit the post and Albania created further opportunities in the second half.
The tactical contrast is therefore clear: San Marino will need disciplined defending and effective transitions, while Albania will look to circulate possession and attack the spaces created by a compact home block.

❗ Injury & Availability File

Albania have one confirmed injury absence from the current Nations League group: Klisman Çake remains unavailable while continuing his rehabilitation.
The Albanian Football Federation stated on 28 September that the rest of the travelling group was in good physical condition and free of new physical problems.
Qazim Laçi is also absent from the Nations League squad after suffering a first-degree injury to the flexor muscle of his left thigh before the camp began.
FSHF replaced Laçi with Feta Fetai after the scan confirmed the injury, meaning Laçi is not part of the group facing San Marino.
For San Marino, the federation’s latest pre-match report does not identify a current named injury absence from the senior squad.
Alessandro Golinucci is unavailable after his red card against Finland, but this is a suspension rather than an injury and therefore is deliberately not included in the injury table.

The official starting XIs were not yet available in the pre-match information reviewed, so no predicted formation is being presented as confirmed team news.
San Marino’s current UEFA squad includes Colombo, Cevoli, Fabbri, Pasolini, Tosi, Meloni, L. Capicchioni, Mularoni, Nanni and Zannoni among the players available for selection.
Albania’s official group contains experienced internationals alongside newer options, with Etrit Berisha, Berat Gjimshiti, Ardian Ismajli, Elseid Hysaj, Kristjan Asllani, Ylber Ramadani and Rey Manaj all selected for the Nations League programme.
The opening match showed Asllani and Muçi directly affecting the scoreboard, while Hysaj supplied the assist for Muçi’s goal against Belarus.
Maran also confirmed before the trip that rotation and energy management are important because Albania are navigating four matches in a short period.
The confirmed team sheets should therefore be treated as the final source for starting selections once they are officially released before kick-off.

🔵 Matchday Personnel & Lineup Status

📰 The Pre-Match Picture

San Marino’s own federation has made the tone of its preparation clear: Cevoli wants a brave response rather than a team defined by the Finland defeat.
Nicola Nanni has joined his coach in calling for a stronger mentality, while the federation has also confirmed that the Albania away section has sold out.
On the Albanian side, Maran has stressed maximum concentration, tactical balance and the need to manage energy through the unusually crowded international programme.
Berat Gjimshiti has also been part of the official pre-match media activity, underlining the importance Albania place on maintaining focus despite the difference in recent results.
The previous meeting between these countries came in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, when Albania won 2-0 in San Marino before winning the return fixture 5-0 in Tirana.
Those earlier results provide historical context, but the current Nations League campaign begins from a different tactical and competitive setting, with both teams now working under new immediate objectives.

• Competition: UEFA Nations League 2026/27, League C, Group C1
• Match: San Marino vs Albania
• Date: 29 September 2026
• Venue: San Marino Stadium, Serravalle
• Kick-off: 20:45 CET
• San Marino’s opening result: San Marino 0-7 Finland
• Albania’s opening result: Albania 2-0 Belarus
• Confirmed injury absence for Albania: Klisman Çake
• Confirmed injury absence for Albania: Qazim Laçi
• San Marino suspension: Alessandro Golinucci is unavailable after his red card against Finland
• Official starting XIs: Not yet released in the pre-match information reviewed