- Home form: Dinamo Tirana have been more solid at home than away, but they are still unbeaten in four across all competitions on their own patch.
- Away form: Astana have been less convincing away from home this season, but they have better overall form than Dinamo Tirana.
- Scoring: Both teams are rarely prolific in front of goal, so a tight match looks likely.
Mismatch of styles likely on Thursday
Home form and setup
Dinamo Tirana's home performance is likely to play a large part in the outcome of Thursday's UEFA Conference League Qualification 2026 First Round second-leg at Elbasan Arena. Ilir Daja has made his team a stubborn outfit since taking the reins on 11 September 2024 and his 4-4-2 formation is well suited to the match-up against FC Astana.
Recent form and key player
The hosts have been much more solid at Elbasan Arena, where they are undefeated in four in all competitions (Won 2, drawn 2), than away from home. Their recent overall form has been indifferent with just one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five matches, although their most recent results suggest that they are in a bit of a rut.
Dinamo were beaten 2-1 at KF Partizani Tirana, 3-0 at Af Elbasani and 2-0 by KF Egnatia. The only glimmer of hope amid the gloom has been the two goals scored by Malomo Taofeeq Ayodeji, who is their most dangerous player right now.
Astana's form and style
Astana have also had a mixed bag of results lately with two wins, two draws and one defeat in their last five. They responded well to a 2-0 away loss at FK Aktobe by drawing 2-2 at Zhenys and beating them 1-0 at home. Grigori Babayan has been in charge of the club since 13 September 2022 and his team are set up to control the ball and play their structured passing game through the half-spaces.
A close contest is anticipated
This game is a real contrast of styles, with Astana looking to keep the ball and control the pace while Dinamo are much more direct, which suits them when they break with speed down the wings to the two strikers playing in the channels.
Our selection is for the visitors to grab the win, although Dinamo's home record makes a close match look very likely and there may not be too much difference in the scoreboard.
- The market about the match makes plenty of sense with the visitors at 1.95, Dinamo at 3.6 and the draw at 3.5.
- Astana's away record has not been great and they average just 0.60 goals per game on the road across all competitions – three goals in five – with all three of those coming away from home.
- Malomo Taofeeq Ayodeji has been Dinamo's sharpest player of late with two goals in five games, while Marin Tomasov is Astana's top scorer with an identical tally.
