Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Nations League match.
With the return of Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku to the Belgium squad, they gain a significant advantage over Ukraine in terms of squad strength. In essence, their star power alone should be enough to secure a victory based on class.
Ukraine
Defeats against Albania (1:2) and the Czech Republic (2:3) at the start of the Nations League group stage did not prevent Ukraine from putting together a strong run in October and November, where they picked up 8 points out of a possible 12. However, they still have clear defensive weaknesses—Ukraine have kept just one clean sheet in the entire Nations League campaign. Additionally, the team will be without Mykhailo Mudryk due to suspension, leaving them without a natural alternative on the left flank.
Belgium
Domenico Tedesco’s ongoing disputes with Belgium’s veteran players nearly saw the team fall behind Israel in the Nations League standings. However, before Rudi Garcia’s managerial debut, all internal issues had been resolved. Against Ukraine, the team could line up in either a 4-2-3-1 or a more aggressive 4-3-3 formation. In the autumn, Kevin De Bruyne (2 goals), Loïs Openda, and Leandro Trossard (both 1+1) stood out in attack—each will have plenty of game time in this crucial fixture.
Ukraine vs Belgium Prediction
Last summer, Ukraine and Belgium played out a dull goalless draw in Stuttgart (0:0), which saw the Ukrainian side eliminated from Euro 2024. On neutral ground in Murcia, the favourites are expected to take control early—securing a strong start under their new manager will be a priority.
