Ukraine vs Northern Ireland Preview
Ukraine and Northern Ireland are undefeated in the Nations League and neither side has conceded a goal in Group B2. Another cagey encounter is anticipated between these in-form sides.
Key Stats - Tough to Beat Sides
- Ukraine are unbeaten in their last 2 games.
- Ukraine have drawn 2 of their last 4 matches against Northern Ireland.
- Northern Ireland are unbeaten in 2 consecutive matches.
H2H
Ukraine have a 3-1 advantage against Northern Ireland, alongside two draws.
Ukraine Give Little Away
Andrea Maldera’s Ukraine are in good long-term form after going unbeaten in eight of their last 11 games. The Blue and Yellows secured back-to-back wins over Albania 1-0 and Poland 2-0 before a 2-1 loss against Denmark.
Ukraine responded with a 1-0 away victory in Hungary to start their Nations League campaign. Maldera’s team had 1.29 XG and Danylo Sikan scored in the first half.
A goalless draw at Georgia followed on Monday. Ukraine allowed -1 XG, had two shots on target and couldn’t score the winner.
Northern Ireland Holding Their Own in the Nations League
Northern Ireland are in hard-to-beat form following just one defeat in their previous five matches in all competitions.
They were unbeaten in two after a 1-1 draw in Wales and a 1-0 victory over Guinea. That streak ended with a 3-1 defeat against France away.
Michael O’Neill’s side made a winning start in Nations League Group B2 and beat Georgia 1-0 away. Northern Ireland had 1.1 XG and three shots on target.
The Green and Whites gained another Nations League point after a 0-0 home draw with Hungary. O’Neill’s side faced just one shot on target and had 0.99-1.14 XG.
Predicted Starting Lineups, Squads & Team News
Ukraine (3-5-2): Anatoliy Trubin; Bohdan Mykhailichenko, Taras Mykhavko, Valeriy Bondar, Eduard Sarapii, Oleksandr Zubkov, Maksym Khlan, Yehor Nazaryna, Oleksandr Pikhalionok; Matviy Ponomarenko, Vladyslav Vanat
Midfielder Heorhiy Sudakov is an injury doubt after missing the Georgia game.
Goalkeepers: Heorhiy Yermakov, Anatoliy Trubin, Dmytro Riznyk
Defenders: Bohdan Mykhaylichenko, Eduard Sarapiy, Taras Mykhavko, Valeriy Bondar
Illia Zabarnyi, Mykola Matviyenko, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Oleksandr Drambayev, Illya Krupskyi
Midfielders: Volodymyr Brazhko, Mykola Shaparenko, Oleksandr Pikhalyonok, Oleh Ocheretko, Yehor Nazaryna, Oleksandr Zubkov, Maksym Khlan, Heorhiy Sudakov, Oleksandr Nazarenko, Ivan Varfolomeyev
Forwards: Andriy Yarmolenko, Matviy Ponomarenko, Roman Yaremchuk, Vladyslav Vanat, Danylo Sikan, Viktor Tsyhankov, Vladyslav Veleten, Ihor Krasnopir
Northern Ireland (3-4-2-1): Pierce Charles; Tom Atcheson, Ruairi McConville, Ciaron Brown; Trai Hume, Shea Charles, Ethan Galbraith, Justin Devenny; Dion Charles, Isaac Price; Jamie Donley
Dan Ballard is ruled out following a hamstring injury against Georgia. Michael O’Neill recently explained that the defender’s injury was a “bitter blow” to the Northern Ireland squad.
Goalkeepers: Pierce Charles, Conor Hazard, Bailey Peacock-Farrell
Defenders: Terry Devlin, Tom Atcheson, Trai Hume, Ruairi McConville, Paddy McNair, Brodie Spencer, Ciaron Brown, Eoin Toal
Midfielders: Justin Devenny, Ethan Galbraith, Jamie Donley, Isaac Price, Patrick Kelly, Shea Charles, Jordan Thompson
Forwards: Dion Charles, Callum Marshall, Ceadach O'Neill, Paul Smyth, Kieran Morrison, Josh Magennis, Braiden Graham