Ukraine vs Belgium Prediction: Rebrov’s 9/4 upstarts to reign in Spain

Nine months after drawing 0-0 at Euro 2024, Ukraine and Belgium meet again in a Nations League Play-Off first-leg tie in Murcia, Spain on Thursday (19.45).

A place in League A of the 2026/27 Nations League is the prize on the line over the next few days, with the second leg in Genk in Belgium on Sunday. Read on for my Ukraine vs Belgium predictions, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Ukraine are without Chelsea's Mikhailo Mudryk, who is suspended. Plymouth centre-back Maxi Talovierov has withdrawn through injury with Oleksandr Svatok replacing him.

New Belgium boss Rudi Garcia has persuaded keeper Thibaut Courtois out of international retirement. Aston Villa's Amadou Onana is injured and Frankfurt full-back Arthur Theate is a major doubt.

Ukraine vs Belgium Odds

Ukraine are massive outsiders at 16/5 with Belgium 4/5 shots to begin Garcia's reign with a win.

It was 0-0 when they last met in Stuttgart in the European Championship finals last summer and the draw in Murcia is available at 5/2. No goalscorer is a 9/1 chance with Romelu Lukaku, Belgium's 85-goal top scorer, 7/2 to net the opener.

Ukraine Draw No Bet @ 9/4

Belgium are the League A side in this contest - they finished third in Group A2 - and are solid favourites in Murcia to win the first leg.

New boss Garcia would dearly love to kick start his reign with a win in Spain and relieve some pressure going into Sunday's second leg in Genk.

But Ukraine look as though they are being seriously underrated for this assignment.

There was as little between them as the scoreline suggested when they drew 0-0 at last summer's Euros in Germany and there is no doubt which nation had the better form over the autumn.

While the Red Devils were going five without a win after beating Israel 3-1 in their League A2 opener, Serhiy Rebrov's Ukraine were going four unbeaten after losing their first two League B1 fixtures.

They had wins against Georgia and Albania, either side of draws with the Czech Republic and Georgia.

Belgium's League A schedule was tougher than Ukraine's League B programme, but there does not look a lot between these sides and the Ukraine Draw No Bet option stands out.

It is Ukraine's 'home' leg but being played, as ever, at a neutral venue, this time in Murcia. And don't use that as a stick to beat Rebrov's nomads whose pride and passion makes them a stern opponent wherever they play.

Heorhiy Sudakov anytime scorer @ 5/1

Rebrov is tight-lipped over whether to play one or two of his trio of chosen strikers, and whether it's Artem Dovbyk, Roman Yaremchuk or Vladyslav Vanat who gets the nod.

One player who will start, though, is 22-year-old Heorhiy Sudakov, one of Ukraine's rising stars, who is having his best scoring season yet with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Sudakov has found the net 12 times in domestic league and cup action and also bagged a couple in the Champions League.

He pulls strings in the No.10 role for Shakhtar and is a real threat around the edge of the box. He is well worth siding with at a nice price to score at any time.

Offers

Thursday: Place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any International Football game on Thursday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Friday’s International Football games. (Credited upon Bet Settlement).

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.