TIRANË, Albania (Interstat) — Albania delivered a commanding performance on home soil Sunday, decisively defeating Armenia 3-1 in an international friendly match at a vibrant Air Albania Stadium.

The victory, part of the Friendlies of Friendlies in World competition, provided a resounding response from the Albanian side after a narrow loss to a top-tier opponent in its previous outing. For Armenia, the defeat extends a difficult run of form.

Fueled by a determined home crowd, Albania controlled the tempo from the opening whistle and was rewarded for its persistent pressure in the 28th minute. Striker Xhuliano Skuka, a native of Dibër, broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish, giving the hosts a lead they would not relinquish.

Skuka’s involvement was tempered just before halftime when he received a yellow card in the 43rd minute. He was later substituted in the 71st minute.

Albania doubled its advantage in the 64th minute through midfielder Kristjan Asllani. The Elbasan native, who played the full 90 minutes, found the net to give his team a crucial two-goal cushion and effectively put the game out of reach for the visitors.

Armenia’s frustrations showed in the 71st minute when Vahan Bichakhchyan was shown a yellow card. The team managed a consolation goal late in the match, but it was not enough to mount a serious comeback as Albania sealed the 3-1 victory.

The result was more decisive than pregame projections had anticipated. Interstat’s game simulator had forecast a 1-1 draw, while its ELO system gave Albania a 67.4 percent probability of winning.

The win improves Albania’s record in this friendly competition to one win and no losses, while Armenia begins its campaign with no wins and one loss. The match also bolstered Albania’s strong overall season form across all competitions, which now stands at four wins, one loss and one draw. Armenia’s struggles continue, as its record across all competitions fell to one win and six losses.

Armenia’s recent schedule has been arduous. The team was coming off a heavy 9-1 loss to Portugal on Nov. 16 and a 1-0 defeat to Hungary on Nov. 13. Its season has been marked by narrow losses and heavy defeats, with a 2-1 win over Ireland on Sept. 9 standing as its lone victory.

Albania, meanwhile, enters a positive period after bouncing back from a 2-0 defeat to England on Nov. 16. Prior to that, the team had secured a 1-0 win over Andorra on Nov. 13 and began its October qualifying campaign with a significant 1-0 away victory against Serbia on Oct. 11.

The Albanian national team will next be in action on March 26, 2026, when it travels to face Poland.