Ireland vs Ukraine betting tips: Nations League preview and predictions

Recommended bets

This will be a first-ever meeting of these two teams. Republic of Ireland are unbeaten in 13 home games in front of fans, including friendlies. Just six of Ireland’s last 27 competitive games have seen both teams score.

Under 2.5 goals is 4/7.

Under 2.5 goals and both teams to score NO is 1/1.

Ukraine to win and both teams to score NO is 4/1.

Andriy Yarmolenko has scored 45 goals for Ukraine, three behind the national record. He is 8/1 to open the scoring and 3/1 to add to this tally.

Match preview

After coming so close to a true sporting fairytale for the ages, Ukraine must now regroup and bounce back in far less important fixtures.

A week ago, the Blue and Yellows were set to return to action, hoping to inspire a nation bereft of hope following Russia's invasion.

Last Wednesday night, Oleksandr Petrakov's side kept the dream alive, swatting aside Scotland in the World Cup play-off semi-finals.

Andriy Yarmolenko's deft dink, Roman Yaremchuk's towering header and then Artem Dovbyk's cool finish seeing them to victory at Hampden.

So then, on Sunday, Ukraine travelled to the Cardiff City Stadium to take on Wales in a winner takes all clash.

The only goal of the afternoon came on the hour mark when Gareth Bale's free-kick was inadvertently deflected into his own net by Yarmolenko.

The visitors were thwarted by an inspired goalkeeper performance, with Yaremchuk (twice), Oleksandr Zinchenko and Dovbyk all denied.

So, Ukraine will not end their 16-year wait for a World Cup appearance, but do face three Nations League games in the next seven nights.

To date in this competition, the Blue and Yellows have changed division following the conclusion of both seasons.

In 2018, they won promotion to League A, before being immediately relegated back to the second-tier two years later.

Can Petrakov, somehow, motivate this group of players to go again?

Well, Republic of Ireland could be the perfect opponents in that regard after they suffered yet another embarrassing defeat.

On Saturday, the Boys in Green made the long journey east to Yerevan, but left without any points, meaning they're still winless in this competition.

Eduard Spertsyan's spectacular long-range strike the difference as Ireland were beaten by the group's supposed minnows Armenia.

Before this, there had been a renewed sense of optimism around Stephen Kenny's side.

They'd ended World Cup qualifying strongly, beating Azerbaijan and Luxembourg on the road, while holding Serbia and Portugal to draws in Dublin.

However, in the context of this group, Ireland need points if they're to avoid an ignominious relegation down to the Nations League's third-tier.

Will Ukraine have too much quality at the Aviva?

Republic of Ireland team news

Goals continue to be Ireland's biggest problem, having scored just 12 in their last 16 competitive matches in Dublin.

Callum Robinson did net six times for Ireland in October/November 2021, including a hat-trick when Qatar visited the Emerald Isle last year.

Thus, he'll continue to lead the line, with Michael Obafemi possibly coming alongside Robinson and Chiedozie Ogbene.

Séamus Coleman will captain the side from right-back as Matt Doherty is currently out injured.

He as well as centre-backs Shane Duffy and Nathan Collins are the only players who've played even semi-regularly in the Premier League this season.

Liverpool's Caoimhín Kelleher is likely to be chosen in goal again, getting the nod over Gavin Bazunu and .Mark Travers.

If James McClean features, he'll move onto 92 international caps, putting him eight on Ireland's all-time list.

Ukraine team news

Oleksandr Petrakov named an unchanged XI for both play-off ties, but will surely have to ring the changes for this one.

Sergiy Sydorchuk, Mykola Shaparenko, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Artem Dovbyk came off the bench in both games, making them the leading candidates to start.

Despite some shaky displays, Heorhiy Bushchan could continue in goal, chosen over veteran Andriy Pyatov and youngster Andriy Lunin.

Andriy Yarmolenko's 108 caps and 45 goals means he is third and second all-time, three behind Andriy Shevchenko in both categories.

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