Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Nations League match.
After the initial matches in September, the Ukraine and Georgia national teams find themselves in contrasting positions within the table. Ukraine stumbled against Albania (1:2) and the Czech Republic (2:3), whereas Georgia are aiming for promotion.
Ukraine
Ukraine's unexpected setback in the first round of the Euro 2024 group stage demonstrated that opponents are capable of punishing them for mistakes when they play defensively. While they tightened up at the back against Slovakia (2:1) and Belgium (0:0), the start of the Nations League exposed their defensive frailties once more, leaving them without the desired outcomes (total 3.51 xGA). Even with Artem Dovbyk returning to the starting lineup, Ukraine's team under Sergiy Rebrov struggled to take charge offensively against their rivals—Mykhaylo Mudryk, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Georgiy Sudakov, and Viktor Tsygankov have yet to find a way to share ball control effectively.
Georgia
Georgia's cohesive counter-attacking approach saw them reach the playoffs in their debut Euro 2024 appearance, where they were eliminated in the first round against Spain (1:4), the eventual winners. Against the Czech Republic (4:1) and Albania (1:0), the team capitalised on their chances with 3.34 xG over 180 minutes, hitting the target with nine shots on goal. It’s evident that they won’t be underestimated in the future—opponents will aim to exploit their weak points.
Ukraine vs Georgia Prediction
On neutral ground in Poznan, Ukraine and Georgia are set for a less than thrilling encounter. Both teams need to maximise their points, so they will likely focus on their defence.
