Georgia – Hungary: hosts aim to take revenge and keep promotion hopes alive
The previous meeting between the sides adds extra intrigue: Hungary came out on top. Now Ramaz Svanadze’s team will have the chance to respond on home soil. The match will be played at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi.
Georgia
The current Nations League campaign has been a tough one for Georgia. After four rounds, Ramaz Svanadze’s team sit bottom of Group B2 with just two points. There is an even more troubling statistic: Georgia are yet to score a single goal in the tournament.
They lost 0-1 to Northern Ireland in their opener, then drew 0-0 with Ukraine. In October, the Georgians suffered another defeat, this time against Hungary (0-1), before playing out another goalless draw with Northern Ireland. So, after four matches, the team have conceded twice but are still waiting for their first goal.
Of course, the team’s absences cannot be overlooked. Georgia’s biggest star, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, is missing from the squad for November. Otar Kiteishvili has also not been called up. Kvaratskhelia’s absence is particularly painful, as his individual skill and ability to produce the unexpected can make all the difference.
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Even without their star player, however, Georgia have plenty of intriguing options. Georges Mikautadze, who plays for Villarreal, is one to watch. Zuriko Davitashvili of Saint-Étienne will be expected to support the attack, while Giorgi Chakvetadze and Giorgi Kochorashvili can add creativity in midfield.
The goalkeeping position also deserves special attention. The coaching staff can call on Giorgi Mamardashvili of Liverpool, who is capable of rescuing his team even in difficult situations. Ramaz Svanadze has named 26 players for the November fixtures, including three debutants. The coach is clearly counting not only on experienced leaders but also on fresh faces.
There is little time left for experimentation, though: the team need points.
Hungary
Hungary are in a much more comfortable position. Marco Rossi’s team have collected seven points and sit second in the group, behind only Northern Ireland. They are just one point off the top, so the battle for promotion remains very much alive.
The campaign did not get off to the best start: Hungary lost 0-1 to Ukraine and then drew 0-0 with Northern Ireland. But the team responded well, winning their next two matches — against Georgia (1-0) and Ukraine (2-1).
One of Hungary’s key strengths is their organization without the ball. They do not always look to dominate possession, but they know how to exploit space and create danger with quick transitions into attack.
The team’s biggest star is Dominik Szoboszlai. The Liverpool midfielder is captain and one of the team’s chief architects in attack. However, his availability for the upcoming match is uncertain: the player suffered a knee ligament sprain on 8 November, and on 10 November the Hungarian Football Federation said a final decision on his fitness would be made shortly before kickoff.
Hungary have plenty of other quality players in their squad. Roland Sallai of Galatasaray can cause problems out wide, while Barnabás Varga has returned to the squad after recovering from injury. Willi Orbán, Milos Kerkez and András Schäfer are also worth keeping an eye on.
Marco Rossi has named 27 players in his squad. Among the notable changes are the return of Attila Szalai and the inclusion of three new faces: Milán Pető, Ákos Szendrei and József Urblik.
The Hungarians know full well that the November fixtures could decide the fate of their entire campaign. There is little chance of the visitors taking this one lightly.
Head-to-head record
Hungary have enjoyed a solid record against Georgia in recent years. The teams met in October in the current Nations League campaign, with Hungary claiming a narrow 1-0 win.
Hungary also have the edge in earlier meetings. That said, historical records do not always reflect the balance of power today.
For Georgia, the upcoming match is a chance to get revenge in front of their home fans. Hungary, meanwhile, will look to repeat October’s result and take three hugely important points back from Tbilisi.
What can we expect from the match?
I would not expect an open game with a glut of chances. On the one hand, Georgia are at home and need a win; on the other, they have serious problems in front of goal. Four matches without scoring says it all.
Hungary are likely to try to take advantage of that. The visitors may allow their opponents to have the initiative, sit deep in a compact defensive shape and look for opportunities to counter quickly. It will be particularly interesting to see how much a possible absence for Szoboszlai affects them.
The Georgians must also keep the group standings in mind.
A win would improve their position ahead of the final round, when they face Ukraine. Hungary, meanwhile, would keep their hopes of finishing top very much alive with a victory.
In my view, Hungary’s squad depth and more consistent results give the visitors the edge. Georgia can make a contest of it with home advantage, but without Kvaratskhelia, the hosts’ attack may once again lack the cutting edge.
Prediction: both teams to score — yes.
