Belgium vs Ukraine
Ukraine surprised everyone when they beat Belgium in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League tie yesterday. With a 3-1 aggregate lead, Serhiy Rebrov’s side is expected to secure their promotion to League A in the next edition of the competition, barring a miraculous run from Rudi Garcia’s men.
The Blue-Yellows have come a long way in this tournament. They’ve bounced in and out of Leagues B and A in the past few years, and now they’re poised to rejoin the big boys of Europe.
Meanwhile, relegation is looming for the Red Devils. After finishing third in Group A2 with only four points, they will likely drop to League B for the first time. The UEFA Nations League 2025 odds are stacked against Belgium, but, as they say in football, the ball is round and anything is possible.
Check out today’s SBOTOP match preview by continuing to read below.
Talking Points
Courtois didn’t look good for Belgium
Thibaut Courtois had not played for Belgium since he fell out with former head coach Domenico Tedesco last June 2023. During his absence from the national team, Courtois had two serious knee injuries that kept him sidelined for months. Koen Casteels was the Red Devils’ first-choice goalkeeper but pulled out after Courtois’ arrival.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper looked rusty against Ukraine, conceding three goals in the second half. Belgium controlled the early proceedings of the match but lost their way in the second half, as Ukraine outworked them in transition.
Manager Rudi Garcia can call Matz Sels (considering his form with Nottingham Forest) to man between the sticks in the rematch this Sunday. However, he’ll likely stick with the more experienced Courtois, one of the national team’s most-tenured members with 103 caps.
Courtois had Thomas Meunier, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, and Maxim De Cuyper covering him in the back four, and Garcia could mix it up since Ameen Al-Dakhil and Wout Faes were left on the bench.
Belgium’s frontline remains potent with Romelu Lukaku up front and Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, and Kevin De Bruyne behind him with Dodi Lukebakio and Jeremy Doku as backup forwards. Youri Tielemans and Zeno Debast will continue to start in the middle of the park for Belgium.
Belgium’s terrible form continues, as they’ve won just one of their last nine international matches with five losses in their previous six (D1, L5).
Dovbyk a game-time decision for Ukraine
Ukraine did not miss Artem Dovbyk as much because of how yesterday’s game went, but they might need him back in the lineup to seal the deal in the second leg against Belgium on Sunday. According to the UEFA Nations League 2025 updates, the AS Roma striker did not get the call-up because he was ill. Dovbyk could see action for the Blue-Yellows this weekend if he returns to 100-per cent fitness.
Dovbyk was a key member of the Girona squad that took La Liga by storm last season with their P3 finish, and he is the Giallorossi’s top scorer with 10 league goals and two assists this season. With Dovbyk sidelined, Roman Yaremchuk started as the team’s solo striker with Heorhiy Sudakov, Mykola Shaparenko, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Viktor Tsygankov behind him in the final third.
Ukraine are steady at the back with the in-form Illia Zabarnyi and Andriy Lunin there. Zabarnyi is a key cog behind Bournemouth’s rise in the Premier League this season, while Lunin has been Courtois’ long-time backup at Real Madrid.
History
Ukraine won 3-1 against Belgium yesterday at Estadio Nueva Condomina. Subs Oleksiy Hutsulyak and Vladyslav Vanat and starting centre-back Illia Zabarnyi overturned a one-goal deficit created by Romelu Lukaku in the 40th minute.
Sunday marks the third-ever meeting between the Red Devils and the Blue-Yellows. Ukraine held Belgium to a goalless draw in Group E of Euro 2024 before last night’s victory, making them undefeated against their Western European counterparts.
As mentioned, Belgium have always been in the top division of the UEFA Nations League since its inception in 2018-19. However, they never qualified in the knockout stage, with their highest finish being fifth during the inaugural season.
Ukraine started in League B in 2018-19 but were promoted to League A. However, they were relegated to League B after finishing last in Group A4 in 2020-21.
Romelu Lukaku is the Red Devils’ all-time leading scorer with 86 international goals in 121 caps, and he is keen to extend his record this weekend. Meanwhile, Andriy Yarmolenko needs three more international goals and 20 more caps to become Ukraine’s all-time caps leader and goal scorer.
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