Ukraine v Ireland predictions: Ukraine can overcome stubborn visitors

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Ukraine v Ireland in the Nations League on Tuesday.

Where to watch

Premier Sports 2, 7.45pm Tuesday

Best bet

Draw-Ukraine double result
1pt 7-2 general

Team news

Ukraine
Goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov retired after the win over Armenia while manager Oleksandr Petrakov may rotate for this final match.

Ireland
Shane Duffy and John Egan have withdrawn from the squad, Jimmy Dunne has been drafted in to replace them. Seamus Coleman and Michael Obafemi are doubts.

Match preview

Ukraine have bounced back well from their disappointing defeat against Wales in the World Cup playoff and look ready to maintain their perfect Nations League record when they host Ireland in Poland.

Since that defeat to the Welsh, Ukraine have picked up two wins to nil, the first of which was against Ireland in Dublin. They followed that up with a 3-0 victory over Armenia on Saturday.

However Ireland returned to form last time out with an impressive 3-0 victory over Scotland after disappointing defeats to Armenia and their opponents here.

Manager Stephen Kenny has emphasised that this is a team in transition and fluctuations between performances must be expected. However this is a hard side to trust to back up that Scotland result, particularly as they were outplayed by Ukraine in the reverse fixture.

Oleksandr Petrakov’s squad is littered with technically gifted players such as Ruslan Malinovskyi and Oleksandr Zinchecko and they proved a cut above what the Boys in Green could offer in Dublin.

However this Ukrainian side can be wasteful. They had more than enough chances to win their playoff tie with Wales and should have beaten Ireland by more than one when they last met.

That will be a boost for an Ireland side who generally keep it tight at the back - they have conceded just four goals in their last eight games.

As a result it may pay to side with this game being a stalemate at half-time before Ukraine’s class starts to tell in the second 45. Ireland can hold out until the break but may find themselves narrowly beaten in the end with Ukraine scoring nine of their last ten goals after the interval.

Key stat

Ukraine have been level at half-time in three of their last four wins

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