Georgia take on the visitors Ukraine in the round 5 match of UEFA Nations League group stage. The match will be played on Saturday, November 16th at Adjarabet Arena (Batumi).
Georgia aims to prove their momentum isn’t gone. The "Crusaders" are enjoying what is arguably the most successful year in their footballing history. It began with triumph in the March playoffs. Unlike previous attempts, Willy Sagnol’s side secured a 2-0 win over Luxembourg and knocked out Greece on penalties after a goalless draw. Their Euro debut was dramatic, with a loss to neighbors Turkey, but they followed it with a draw against the Czech Republic and a remarkable victory over Portugal, albeit a side already in the playoffs. Even against eventual champions Spain, Georgia managed to score, though they lost 1-4 in the Round of 16. Undeterred, the team started their Nations League campaign strong in September, crushing the Czech Republic and beating Albania. However, last month brought setbacks: narrow 0-1 losses to both Ukraine and Albania cost them the group lead.
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Ukraine under Serhiy Rebrov showed promise in last year’s qualifiers, finishing level on points with Italy but losing out due to tiebreakers. At the Euros, they set a new record for group stage points with 4 but were undone by a heavy opening loss to Romania, ending up fourth in their group despite equal points with all three opponents. In the Nations League, hopes of returning to League A were dented by September losses to the Czech Republic and Albania. Last month, an injury crisis forced Rebrov to call up several debutants. Despite these challenges, Ukraine managed a gritty 1-0 victory over Georgia, thanks to Mykhailo Mudryk’s goal, and earned a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic after conceding early.
The teams have faced off seven times, with Ukraine dominating the matchup: five wins and two draws. Georgia's progress under Sagnol is undeniable, but the recent losses indicate that maintaining consistency remains a challenge. Ukraine, while still underperforming relative to their ambitions, showed resilience in overcoming Georgia last month and salvaging a point against the Czech Republic. Mudryk’s growing influence could prove decisive in this fixture. Rebrov has shown the ability to adapt and learn from past mistakes. With their backs against the wall, Mudryk and his teammates are likely to come out strong. Expect Ukraine to secure a narrow win in a hard-fought match, with a 1-0 or 2-1 scoreline being a plausible outcome.
Prediction for the match: Ukraine to win.
