Partizani Tirana vs Erzeni Shijak prediction 24.12.2023

• Competition: Superliga
• Date: Sunday, 24th December 2023
• Kickoff: 16:00 UTC / 17:00 CET
• Venue: Arena e Demave (Tirana)

In the 18th round of the Albanian Superliga, the reigning champions from last season, Partizani, will be hosting one of this season’s weakest teams, Erzeni Shijak.

Partizani, one of Albania’s leading clubs, were fortunate to win last season’s title, due to finishing with equal points as KF Tirana but having a superior head-to-head score. This season, they narrowly missed out on advancing to the Europa Conference League Group phase, a significant achievement for the club, after a 2:1 aggregate loss to Astana in the final round. In the Superliga, Partizani are currently in the second place with 32 points after 17 rounds. They trail first place Egnatia by five points, but with a nine-point lead over third place KF Tirana, it appears to be a two-team competition for the Albanian title. Partizani also secured the Super Cup with a 1:0 victory over Egnatia in extra time.

In the 2021/22 season, Erzeni Shijak ascended from the second tier of Albanian football. Despite nearly facing relegation last season after finishing 8th and enduring the relegation playout, they successfully defeated Kotsni Peshkobi, securing their place in the Superliga for another year. However, this season sees Erzeni Shijak once again on the brink of potential relegation, as they currently sit in 9th place, a mere two points ahead of last-placed Teuta.

Partizani Tirana vs Erzeni Shijak pick: Under 2.5 goals

Partizani boasts the league’s strongest defense, having conceded only 14 goals in 17 rounds. This solid defense has led to Partizani keeping the score under 2.5 goals in 12 out of 17 league games, which accounts for 71%. However, their offense has been struggling recently, as they were unable to score more than one goal in their last seven games.

Erzeni Shijak’s performance has been subpar recently, having only achieved one victory in their last nine games. Their offensive capabilities are particularly concerning, with just three goals scored across these nine matches &— an average of 0.33 per game. However, they have shown significant improvement in their defense, as evidenced by their clean sheets in the recent games against Teuta and Kukesi. As they prepare to face one of the top teams in the league, we predict they will adopt a highly defensive 5-3-2 formation.

Undoubtedly, Partizani is the superior team overall. However, taking into account all factors, we assert that the under 2.5 goals bet is the most secure choice for this match.