Euro 2016 qualifiers match report Portugal 0-1 Albania

Euro 2016 qualifiers match report Portugal 0-1 Albania

Match report: Portugal vs Albania

Portuguese Line-up: Patricio, Pereira, Pepe, Costa, Coentrao, Moutinho, Carvalho, Gomes, Vieirinha, Eder, Nani.

Albanian Line-up: Berisha, Hysaj, Cana, Mavraj, Agolli, Roshi, Xhaka, Kukeli, Abrashi, Lenjani, Balaj.

After an early world cup exit, the Portuguese national side would have been hoped to start the Euro campaign on a better note, but their hopes were crushed by European minnows Albania who handed them their first defeat. Portuguese national team coach Paulo Bento, is already under pressure after this home loss. Portugal missed their star skipper Cristiano Ronaldo who was suffering from a minor injury.

In the absence of Cristiano, this former Manchester United colleague Luis Nani captained the side. The Albanians were aware of the attacking threat that their opponent possessed, one of the reasons why they stuck to their plan of counter attacking football for their first Euro qualifier. 

The game was dominated largely by the Portuguese with the crowd backing the national side, but surprisingly Albania were the one to score first and the only goal of the game. With pressure mounting on Bento and his team, they should be making up for their loss in the forthcoming qualifier. With their talisman Ronaldo expected to be back, things look bright for the European heavyweight.