Ukraine VS Czech Republic Match Prediction
2018-10-16
18:45:00
Ukraine
VS
Czech Republic
Our Prediction Tip
Ukraine will win this match.
2018-10-1618:45:00 Ukraine will win this match.
Ukraine and Czech Republic have played three previous matches against each other, with one win apiece and one draw. The Ukrainian win came last time out, of course, when Yevgeni Konoplyanka and Oleksandr Zinchecko scored stoppage-time goals in each half to earn a 2-1 win after Patrik Schick had initially given the hosts an early lead. Previously, they had played friendlies in 2011 and 2012, with the Czechs winning 4-0 at home in 2011 before a goalless draw in Ukraine the following year.
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Ukraine have made a strong start to the UEFA Nations League, following on from the resurgent form they have showed throughout 2018.
Unbeaten so far this year, they left it late (in both halves) to beat Czech Republic last time out, but they will now top the group if they beat the Czechs again at home.
Andriy Shevchenko has managed to find a fairly stable starting line-up, with Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevgeni Konoplyanka providing goals from the wings, and the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko providing further Premier League quality in the middle.
Zinchenko was the match winner last time out, and has managed to get himself back into Manchester City’s match-day squad after injuries – justifying his decision to stick with the Premier League champions.
On the other side, the Czech Republic bounced back with a win against Slovakia, and the trio of Matej Vydra, Borek Dockal and Jaromir Zmrhal offer a new dimension to their attacking player behind in-form Patrik Schick.
Schick opened the scoring in the reverse fixture and scored the winner against Slovakia last time out and he is clearly the dangerman.
Ukraine, however, held Italy to a 1-1 draw last time out and their good form makes it hard to back against them.
Yarmolenko and Konoplyanka provide goals from the wings and Zinchenko and Malinovskyi have scored from midfield lately too. There are goals in this Ukraine team, even if they do concede – as was the case in the reverse fixture.
They need a win to top the group with a game to spare, and a win they should get on home soil.
Ukraine are favourites to beat the Czech Republic and can be backed at a best price of 3/4 with Bet365 and 888sport.
Both teams to score, as was the case in the reverse fixture, has been set at 6/5 with Bet365, Betway and 10Bet, while a Ukraine win and BTTS is 7/2 with Bet365, Betfair and Paddy Power.
You can also get a generous 27/20 with Ladbrokes and 23/17 with 10Bet on there being over 2.5 goals, and a Ukraine win and over 2.5 goals improves that to a best price of 11/5 with Ladbrokes.
Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevgeni Konopylanka have been Ukraine’s form men. Yarmolenko is 9/5 to score at any time with Betfair and Paddy Power, while Konoplyanka - who scored in the reverse fixture – is 29/10 with 888sport. Czech Republic’s Patrik Schick, who also scored in the reverse fixture, is 4/1 to score at any time with 888sport.
Ukraine are in good form in 2018 and can get the win they need to seal top spot and promotion in Group B1.
Vitaliy Buyalskyi withdrew from the current squad injured, joining Yevhen Khacheridi on the absentee list. Vladyslav Kulach, Vasyl Kravets and Ihor Plastun remain uncapped after the friendly with Italy, and they appear unlikely to play as a result.
Andriy Yarmolemko – Scored the winner from the penalty spot against Slovakia, having previously netted twice in the win against Albania.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – Ukraine’s last-minute winner when they last met the Czech Republic, and has proved his worth at Manchester City this season after opting to turn down a move away.
Yevgeni Konoplyanka – The other goalscorer in the reverse fixture, having also netted twice – alongside Yarmolenko – in that defeat of Albania.
Ukraine are unbeaten in 2018 and have won three of their last five matches. The draw with Italy in a friendly, thanks to Ruslan Malinovskiy’s equaliser, stretched that unbeaten run but did ended a three-match winning streak. That streak was comprised of a 4-1 friendly defeat of Albania, with Yevgeni Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko both scoring twice, while Konopylanka netted again against the Czech Republic. That looked to be enough for a point in Prague, but Oleksandr Zinchenko made it even better with a stoppage-time winner. They then backed that up by beating Slovakia thanks to Yarmolenko’s penalty to ensure they top the group after two games.
Tomas Soucek is suspended for the game against Ukraine after picking up his second yellow card in as many games in the win against Slovakia. Pavel Kaderabek and Lukas Hejda are both out injured, meanwhile – the former having gone off after an hour of the win in Trnava. Josef Husbauer had already withdrawn injured in midfield. Matej Vydra returned to the squad last time out, and won his first cap for two years.
Patrick Schik – Scored in both UEFA Nations League matches so far, including the winner against Slovakia – his fourth international goal.
Borek Dockal – The Philadelphia Union playmaker set up both goals against Slovakia.
Matej Vydra – Back in the Premier League and now back in the Czech Republic squad, he offers pace and energy playing just behind the striker.
Czech Republic had lost three of their last four games before bouncing back with a derby win against Slovakia. They conceded stoppage time goals in both halves when they lost to Ukraine in their opening UEFA Nations League match against Ukraine, after Patrik Schick had given them an early lead, but followed that with a crushing 5-1 defeat to Russia in a friendly. Against Slovakia last time out, however the Czechs got back to winning ways – Michal Krmencik and Patrik Schick scoring their goals in a 2-1 away win.
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