Ukraine vs Georgia Prediction: Over 2.5 goals the way to go

Ukraine and Georgia go head-to-head at Stadion Poznan in Poland in the Uefa Nations League on Friday (19:45). The Crusaders have taken maximum points from their first two fixtures in League B Group 1, while Ukraine are yet to put a single point on the board.

This should be an interesting contest in Poland and my Ukraine vs Georgia prediction would suggest we will not be short of goals in this match. You will find my betting selections below, alongside the latest match odds and team news.

Ukraine vs Georgia Odds

Ukraine are 6/5 to pick up their first win, which gives them a theoretical chance of 45.5%. Georgia are valued at 12/5, giving them an implied probability of 29.4%. The draw is on offer at 9/4 (30.8%).

Both teams to score can be backed at 5/6, while over 2.5 goals is available at 11/10.

Georgia midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili has scored twice in the Nations League so far and he is 10/1 to strike anytime on Friday.

Football Odds

Team News 

Ukraine are without Arsenal's versatile defender/midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko due to a calf injury. Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolonko is also out with an issue, as is Girona winger Viktor Tsygankov. Ruslan Malinovskyi has also missed out on this squad due to a physical problem.

Andriy Yarmolenko is out of Friday's encounter after picking up a knock. Taras Stepanenko and Volodymyr Brazhko are also unavailable for selection.

Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was forced to pull out of this month's squad due to illness. The Real Madrid shot-stopper has been replaced by Shakhtar Donetsk's Dmytro Riznyk.

His club-mate, Dmytro Kryskiv has picked up his first senior call-up after impressing for the Ukrainian Premier League side. Roma striker Artem Dovbyk returns to the fold after he pulled out of the September camp due to injury.

Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk has been selected once again, despite finding his game time limited for the Blues this season.

For Georgia, Sarajevo forward Giorgi Guliashavli has received his first call-up to the national team after scoring eight goals in as many matches in the Bosnian top-flight. He joins up with two of the Crusaders' star players in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze.

MLS Player of the Season nominee Saba Lobzhanidze is Georgia's only major absentee in Poland.

Over 2.5 goals @ 11/10

Seeing as Ukraine are desperate to put their first points on the board in the Nations League, and Georgia are looking to extend their lead at the top, I don't think we will be short of goals in Poznan.

Ukraine will welcome back star forward Dovbyk who will be hungry to deliver after not being able to help out his team in the first two fixtures last month. The 27-year-old has had a decent start to his Roma career with four goals in nine appearances across all competitions.

He has not scored for Ukraine since June in a couple of friendlies before Euro 2024, and he will have been disappointed not to score in Germany over the summer. Dovbyk will be driven to help turn Ukraine's Nations League fortunes around.

Ukraine's two fixtures so far have seen at least three goals scored, and I think this trend has a stronger chance of continuing with Dovbyk available to feature again.

Georgia have seen over 2.5 goals land on one occasion so far, when they defeated Czech Republic 4-1 on matchday one. They certainly have the quality in attack to rack up a few goals against a Ukraine side that are low on confidence, but the strugglers can cause problems themselves after scoring in both of their appearances in the Nations League so far.

Artem Dovbyk & Georges Mikautadze to score anytime @ 8/1

For my second selection, I have gone for a creative bet builder that pays at an enticing 8/1. I have opted to back strikers on both sides to find the back of the net.

It is an interesting dynamic as we have a player in Dovbyk who has gone a while since scoring for his country but is finding the back of the net for his club, and a player who is struggling to score for his club but is a regular source of goals for his national team in Mikautadze.

Dovbyk being back in the squad will boost the Ukraine squad, and as I mentioned above, he will be eager to play a starring role over the course of this international break in the two Nations League fixtures.

He has started well at Roma, but after last season in Girona we know that there is still much more to come from him, especially on the international stage. Dovbyk will have some confidence heading into this match from his form with Roma, so I think he will go straight back into the starting lineup and contribute a goal for his side.

Georgia's Mikautadze was also on the move in the summer, which came to the surprise of no one following his exploits at Euro 2024. He was the joint-top scorer in Germany with three goals, and he has already opened his Nations League account in the 4-1 drubbing of Czech Republic last month.

I find it strange how he remains without a goal for his new club Lyon. He has gone eight games without scoring for the French side in all competitions, so the forward will be glad to be returning to the international stage as this is where he can rediscover his form.

This international break will give him a chance to get back on the scoresheet in a bid to help him translate his national team form to his performances for his new club.

Friday's match serves as an excellent opportunity for both players, and I think they can both find the back of the net.

Offers

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