After three straight defeats, Ukraine face Georgia

Pressure in League B

The most recent meeting ended 0-0 in September, but Ukraine now approach the return fixture after three consecutive defeats and four matches without a win. They are third in League B Group B on four points, two ahead of fourth-placed Georgia, with both sides having played five matches.

Ukraine have one win, one draw and three defeats in this Nations League campaign; Georgia have two draws and three defeats. A Georgia win would put them on five points, above Ukraine on four, and secure third place. Ukraine will remain third if they avoid defeat. The fourth-placed side enters the League B/C play-offs.

Goals have been scarce

Across five UEFA Nations League matches in this competition, Ukraine have scored twice and conceded six. Georgia have scored none and conceded four in their five matches, while their away record in the competition is one draw and one defeat, with one goal conceded and none scored.

That contrast gives Ukraine a route to edge the contest, but their home record offers a warning: they have lost both of their two home matches in the competition, conceding five and scoring once. Georgia’s failure to score in five matches is a major counterpoint, though their lower goals-against total suggests they have been harder to break down. A pattern to watch is whether Ukraine can turn home pressure into a goal against an away side that has conceded only once in two competition matches.

Recent meetings favour Ukraine

The September 0-0 draw was the latest of three meetings. Ukraine are unbeaten across those matches, with one win and two draws; all three produced two goals or fewer. That history points to another potentially tight encounter, although Ukraine’s current run of defeats complicates the picture.

Our prediction

Ukraine have the narrow edge because Georgia have not scored in five UEFA Nations League matches, but Ukraine’s two home defeats and three straight losses make a home win far from assured. A draw remains a credible outcome, with the recent head-to-head meetings also tending to be low-scoring.