Serbia 0-1 Albania Highlights, FIFA World Cup Europe Qualifiers: Manaj's First-Half Goal Gives Red And Blacks Win

Hello, football fans! We have an exciting and oftentimes fiery clash on offer as Serbia take on Albania in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Both need a win but for different reasons – Serbia looking to return to winning ways, and Albania look to leapfrog their rivals. The action in Leskovac is scheduled for 12:15 AM IST, so stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are released.

Starting XI: Dorde Petrovic (gk); Strahinja Pavlovic, ilos Veljkovic, Veljko Misoavljevic; Filip Kostic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Aleksandar Stankovic, Andrija Zivkovic; Lazar Samardzic; Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic

Bench: Dragan Rosic (gk), Predrag Rajkovic (gk), Jan-Carlo Simic, Strahinja Erakovic, Dejan Zukic, Ognjen Ugresic, Vanja Dragojevic, Vasilije Kostov, Anrdrej Ilic, Lazar Randjelovic, Luka Jovic, Stefan Mitrovic

Starting XI: Thomas Strakosha (gk); Mario Mitaj, Berat Djimsiti, Arlind Ajeti, Elseid Hysaj; Juljan Shehu, Kristjan Asllani, Qazim Laci; Myrto Uzuni, Rey Manaj, Armando Broja

Bench: Mario Dajsinani (gk), Simon Simoni (gk), Enea Mihaj, Ivan Balliu, Klisman Cake, Naser Aliji, Jasir Asani, Medon Berisha, Ylber Ramadani, Arber Hoxha, Mirlind Daku, Nedim Bajrami

• Serbia: RTS 1, Arena 1 Premium

• Albania: SuperSport 2 Digitalb, TV Klan

The match will not be televised or live-streamed in India. However, you can follow the Serbia vs Albania live scores on Outlook India for free.

Last Five Matches:

• Albania 0-0 Serbia (WC Qualifiers, 2025)

• Albania 0-2 Serbia (Euro Qualifiers, 2015)

• Serbia 0-3 Albania (Euro Qualifiers, 2014)

Serbia: 🟢W ⚫D 🟢W 🟢W 🔴L

Albania: 🟢W ⚫D ⚫D 🟢W 🟢W

After a slight delay, Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs blows his whistle to get their fiery clash underway in Leskovac. Neither set of fans will hope for anything short of a win, with both the second place in Group K as well as the historical weight of this rivalry in spotlight. Stay tuned!

It has been a stretched start to the match, with both sides looking to get an early break. Kostic has been a bright spark for the hosts, but for now, the Eagles - despite having more of the possession - have not been able to break the defensive line with their through balls.

The first big chance of the match falls to Serbia, Vlahovic is denied by Strakosha with an excellent save. The Juventus striker showed a burst of pace and then has a shot from the edge of the box, but Strakosha showed good instincts to parry away the danger.

A couple of minutes after Asllani missed a decent chance, blasting a rebound over the crossbar from the edge of the box, Shehu earns a yellow for a late tackle. With half-time approaching fast, can either side show a moment of brilliance to take a lead?

Goal!! This match was screaming for some persona inspiration, and Manaj provided just that! After winning a free-kick from near the half-way line, the former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker scored from close range after being receiving a scuffed shot from Ajeti.

Manaj's goal was the last kick of the first half, which has been pretty intensely fought - despite the lack of clear cut chances - until the last moment. Manaj, who got a yellow card during his celebration, won't mind much, having given Albania a vital lead in this clash.

The second half is underway, and Albania have a lead courtesy of the final moments of heroics in the previous 45 minutes from Rey Manaj. Can the visitors add to their lead, or will Vlahovic and Co. make a quick return? Stay tuned!

Serbia have begun the second half with intent to equalise as soon as possible, and Mitrovic almost did just that - Kostic put in a terrific cross from the flanks and Mitrovic outjumped his marker, but his header had too much underneath and flew over the bar. This is much, much better from the hosts, who also have the slight majority in ball possession.

The two biggest chances of the night have fallen to Vlahovic, and the Juventus forward has not taken advantage of any of them. After making a good run into the box dodging the Albanian defenders, he tried to test Strakosha, but his shot flew over the crossbar. Jovic and Pavlovic, too, have seen their efforts barely test the Albanian goalkeeper - not a good sign for manager Dagan Strojkovic, who opts to make changes.

Serbia have had more of the ball and shots, but in the only thing that matters - goals - Albania lead by one to nil, courtesy of Manaj's first-half strike late in stoppage time. With the regulation time over and just the injury time left, it looks like Albania will hold on to seal a massive win over Serbia, leapfrogging them to second place in Group K.

It's all over at the Dubocica Stadium, and it's Albania who have come away with a hard-fought win against their rivals. Rey Manaj's goal in the first half stoppage-time was enough for all three points for the Red and Blacks, and they are now in second place in Group K, trailing England by four points.