Sports Mole previews Friday's Nations League conflict between Ukraine and Georgia, together with predictions, team information and attainable lineups.
Top meets backside in League B Group 1, as rising power Georgia meet final-positioned Ukraine within the UEFA Nations League on Friday.
Buoyed by an excellent exhibiting at Euro 2024, the Georgians claimed most factors final month, whereas their opponents suffered again-to-again defeats.
Match preview
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While Georgia had the time of their lives in Germany, Ukraine had been sadly eradicated on the group stage regardless of choosing up 4 factors, as they fell on the first hurdle for a 3rd time in 4 European Championship appearances.
Serhiy Rebrov‘s aspect had been decided to bounce again from such disappointment in September, however they did not cling onto a one-aim lead in opposition to Albania of their Nations League opener, dropping 2-1 in Prague.
As battle continues to rage within the Ukrainians' homeland, they may now host Friday's recreation in Poland, having additionally come away empty-handed from a 5-aim thriller in opposition to the Czech Republic.
Trailing by two when heading into the closing levels, the Blue and Yellow got contemporary hope by Heorhiy Sudakov‘s 84th-minute strike, however their hosts held on and consigned Ukraine to final place in the Group 1 standings.
Already famend for his nationwide-team feats as a participant, Rebrov had solely misplaced three of 16 earlier matches in cost, however his team now face an actual struggle to retain their League B standing.
Yet, with 4 video games left, there may be nonetheless time to show the tide and even contend for promotion to Europe's high tier, which they final competed in 4 years in the past: second place would safe a playoff, so two wins this month may maintain that dream alive.
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In six previous conferences with Ukraine, there have been no wins to have a good time for Georgia, who've spent most of their time since gaining independence as one of many continent's outsiders.
Having taken the Nations League path to Euro 2024, although – topping their League C group after which progressing by means of the playoffs – their standing has sky-rocketed over the previous few months.
After making the knockout stage in Germany, Willy Sagnol‘s aspect returned to motion in high quality model final month, after they put 4 previous the Czech Republic – with talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opening the scoring from a penalty – and edged out Albania.
That established a 3-level cushion over each of their September victims, they usually occupy high spot in Group 1, with again-to-again promotions now a definite risk.
Due to competing in its decrease echelons, Georgia's general Nations League report is especially spectacular, having gained seven of their final eight fixtures in UEFA's latest worldwide event.
However, throughout all competitions, the Jvarosnebi have misplaced six of their final 9 on the street, so Sagnol will take nothing as a right earlier than heading to Poznan.
Ukraine Nations League kind:
Ukraine kind (all competitions):
Georgia Nations League kind:
Georgia kind (all competitions):
Team News
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One of his nation's all-time high scorers, Serhiy Rebrov shall be glad to welcome again Ukraine's present star striker, as in-kind Roma ahead Artem Dovbyk returns after being sidelined in September.
However, Premier League duo Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko are each unavailable, along with Girona winger Viktor Tsygankov and Genoa midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi, the latter of whom lately suffered a critical ankle damage.
Andriy Yarmolenko picked up a knock on the weekend, so Ukraine's 48-aim captain may even be lacking on Friday. Midfield pair Taras Stepanenko and Volodymyr Brazhko have dropped out too.
Meanwhile, Georgia have far fewer absences to concern them, however MLS ‘Player of the Season' nominee Saba Lobzhanidze won't journey to Poland.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia often grabs the headlines, however Liverpool-bound goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili proved his potential by topping the save charts at Euro 2024, the place Lyon striker Georges Mikautadze shared the Golden Boot.
Ukraine attainable beginning lineup:
Trubin; Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Mykhaylichenko; Sudakov, Buyalskyi, Shaparenko; Zubkov, Dovbyk, Mudryk
Georgia attainable beginning lineup:
Mamardashvili; Gvelesiani, Kashia, Dvali; Kakabadze, Chakvetadze, Kochorashvili, Kiteishvili, Lochoshvili; Kvaratskhelia, Mikautadze
We say: Ukraine 2-2 Georgia
As Ukraine have been struck by a sequence of accidents to key males – and they're nonetheless denied residence benefit – they might must accept one level in opposition to a nicely-drilled Georgia aspect.
The Group 1 leaders have a transparent identification and a few gifted forwards, to allow them to maintain their Nations League unbeaten streak going.
For information evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.
