Scotland v Albania Betting Tips: Latest odds, team news, preview and predictions

Scotland open their Uefa Nations League campaign against Albania at Hampden Park on Monday night.

Alex McLeish's side suffered a chastening 4-0 defeat at the hands of Belgium in a friendly on Friday night, a fourth defeat in five matches since the 59-year-old was appointed as Gordon Strachan's successor in February.

Albania were 1-0 winners against Israel in Elbasan on Friday in their opening match of this competition and Christian Panucci's men will heap yet more misery upon the Scots should they come out on top in Glasgow.

Latest odds

Despite scoring just one goal in their last six matches, the Scots are 4/5 (1.80) favourites with William Hill to win this one.

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The same firm go 12/5 (3.40) that the match ends all square, while William Hill offer 15/4 (4.75) that Albania are victorious in the first ever meeting of these two nations.

Team news

Leigh Griffiths led Scotland's attack against Belgium and the Celtic striker is expected to do so again here, although will hope to be afforded more opportunities here than he was against Roberto Martinez's men.

Eros Grezda, who has recently joined Rangers, misses out for the visitors through injury, whilst Taulant Xhaka - brother of Arsenal midfielder Granit - will be looking to add to his tally after notching against Israel last time out.

A tight tussle?

There have been goals at both ends in just one of Scotland's last seven home matches and, so, it is no surprise that William Hill go just 4/6 (1.67) that either side fails to score at Hampden on this occasion.

Furthermore, just two of Scotland's last 10 home matches have seen more than two goals scored and William Hill offer 4/7 (1.57) that there are fewer than three goals on this occasion.

Albania will feel confident of claiming a positive result when they come to Glasgow, for they have lost just two of their last 10 competitive matches on their travels - against Italy and Spain respectively.

Prediction

Having scored just one goal in five matches during McLeish's second spell as manager thus far, the shot-shy Scots could be set for another nervy night at Hampden.

Five of Scotland's last six goals in competitive home matches have come in the second half - with four of those arriving inside the final five minutes.

Goals, then, could prove hard to come by here and it is William Hill's even money (2.0) quote for the opening goal of the game to be scored after the 30th minute that could represent real value for punters ahead of Monday's match.

First goal after 30th minute at even money (2.0) for a 2pt stake with William Hill William Hill