Neither national team has conceded in the Nations League: prediction for Ukraine — Northern Ireland
The UEFA Nations League third-round match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland will take place on October 2 at the Anton Malatinský Stadium in Trnava, Slovakia. Both teams have collected four points from their opening two matches: Northern Ireland lead the group, while Ukraine sit in second place.
Ukraine: four points and no goals conceded
Andrea Maldera's side began the tournament with a 1-0 win over Hungary before playing out a 0-0 draw with Georgia. As a result, Ukraine remain unbeaten and have kept clean sheets in both matches.
The team head into the game without any injuries or suspensions. Roman Yaremchuk, who has scored 18 goals for the national team, and Danylo Sikan are expected to lead the attack again, while Yehor Nazaryna could feature in midfield.
Northern Ireland: group leaders after two rounds
Northern Ireland also started with four points. Michael O'Neill's team first defeated Georgia 1-0 and then drew 0-0 with Hungary, preserving their lead at the top of the group.
The visitors' main absentee is the injured Dan Ballard. Otherwise, the lineup is unlikely to change significantly, with Jamie Donley expected to lead the attack again. He has scored twice in 12 appearances for the national team.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Ukraine and Northern Ireland have collected four points each after two rounds.
- Neither national team has conceded a single goal in the current Nations League campaign.
- Ukraine have won three of their six previous meetings with Northern Ireland, alongside two draws and one defeat at Euro 2016.
Defense could once again take center stage: prediction for Ukraine — Northern Ireland
Both teams have started the tournament impressively at the back and have yet to allow their opponents to score. Ukraine have the edge in terms of attacking quality, but Northern Ireland have already shown that they can handle tight, cagey matches effectively.
Given the cautious approach expected from both sides, the game could well feature very few dangerous chances. A low-scoring draw looks like the most likely outcome.
