Szoboszlai or Kvaratskhelia? Prediction for the Nations League match Hungary vs Georgia
On Friday, October 2, 2026, at 20:45 CET, Hungary will host Georgia in a crucial Matchday 3 fixture in League B (Group 2) of the UEFA Nations League. The game will be played at a packed 67,000-capacity Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
After two opening rounds, both teams have collected just one point, allowing Northern Ireland and Ukraine to move clear at the top with four points each. Their head-to-head clash at the halfway point of the group stage is shaping up to be a no-holds-barred battle: defeat would all but end their hopes of challenging for promotion to the top tier and bring the threat of relegation much closer.
The rivals have rarely crossed paths in recent history: in official fixtures, the teams traded victories in the 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign, with Hungary winning 4-1 at home before Georgia exacted revenge with a 3-1 victory in Tbilisi. Both sides favor pragmatic football that can explode into life, with a goal at either end likely to immediately open up space for end-to-end action.
Hungary
Marco Rossi’s team traditionally performs with tremendous emotional intensity and discipline on home soil. The main brain and playmaker of the “Magyars,” Dominik Szoboszlai, dictates the tempo, while Gábor Jurek and Dániel Lucácz provide a useful physical presence up front.
Hungary tend to start home matches aggressively, making active use of a high press and set pieces. At the same time, gaps periodically appear in the Hungarian defensive line when opponents transition quickly from defense to attack, and that could prove a vulnerable area against explosive forwards.
Georgia
The “Crusaders” head into this match under new head coach Ramaz Svanadze. He has already overseen one game in charge of Georgia, against Ukraine, which ended in a goalless 0-0 draw.
In goal, Georgia have an impenetrable wall in Giorgi Mamardashvili, while the Khvicha Kvaratskhelia–Georges Mikautadze partnership can unlock any defense within seconds through dribbling and individual skill. However, Georgia do not always show enough composure throughout all 90 minutes away from home in official matches, particularly when their opponents impose a prolonged physical battle in midfield.
Probable lineups
- Hungary: Tóth - Osváth, Orbán, Csinger, Kerkez - Schäfer, Csongvai, Scűcs - Jurek, Szoboszlai, Lukács
- Georgia: Mamardashvili - Kakabadze, Goglichidze, Dvali, Lochoshvili - Chakvetadze, Kochorashvili, Kiteishvili - Tsitaishvili, Kvaratskhelia, Mikautadze
Prediction
The standings demand maximum caution: after two rounds, both national teams have just one point. A defeat would virtually end their chances of reaching League A and leave them fighting for survival. At the Puskás Aréna, Marco Rossi knows how to slow the game down in high-pressure matches, while Ramaz Svanadze is likely to set up a low block and rely on Giorgi Mamardashvili’s saves. In such a scenario, breaking through the well-organized defensive lines will be extremely difficult for both sides. My prediction: Under 2.5 goals.
