Northern Ireland vs Ukraine Preview

Windsor Park hosts the League B Group 2 leaders on Saturday night, with Northern Ireland unbeaten and yet to concede in four Nations League games. Ukraine were beaten 3-0 by Northern Ireland six weeks ago. They arrive third on four points after back-to-back defeats. Kick-off is at 7:45pm GMT.

Northern Ireland have two wins, two draws and a defeat from their last five, but the Nations League part of that run is spotless defensively: four games, four clean sheets. The latest was a goalless home draw with Georgia in October, three days after a 3-0 win against Ukraine. Before that, they drew 0-0 at home with Hungary and won 1-0 in Georgia, while the oldest result is a 3-1 friendly defeat in France in June. Northern Ireland have scored five and conceded three across the five games, with all three goals against coming in that friendly.

Ukraine have lost their last two, with a 2-1 defeat to Hungary in October coming three days after the 3-0 loss to Northern Ireland. Before those, they drew 0-0 in Georgia and won 1-0 in Hungary, while the oldest result is a 2-1 friendly defeat in Denmark in June. That makes one win, a draw and three defeats, with three goals scored and seven conceded. Ukraine have not scored more than once in any of the five games.

Northern Ireland have won two of the last five meetings to Ukraine’s one, with two draws, and Ukraine have scored just once across those games. The most recent was Northern Ireland’s 3-0 win in October, and before that Ukraine won 1-0 in a 2021 friendly. Northern Ireland also won 2-0 at the European Championship in June 2016, while the sides drew 0-0 twice in qualifying, in 2003 and 2002. The only meeting in the sample hosted by Northern Ireland ended goalless, and Saturday’s game at Windsor Park will be their first home meeting with Ukraine since 2002.

Northern Ireland lead League B Group 2 on eight points, one ahead of Hungary, while Ukraine are third on four. A Northern Ireland win would take them to 11 points, four clear of Hungary on current standings.

In the UK, the match is live on BBC Two and BBC Northern Ireland, with streaming on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. In Ukraine, it’s on Suspilne Sport and MEGOGO Football 1, while US viewers can watch on Fubo Sports Network 2 or stream through fuboTV and ViX.

Possible Lineups

Northern Ireland — Form

Ukraine — Form

Head to Head

Where to Watch

Table

Nations League Standings — League B, Group 2