Scotland welcome Ukraine back to Hampden Park this evening to contest a crucial Nations League fixture, the winners of which, will be favourites to top the group outright. Ukraine toppled the Scots in Glasgow as recently as June in a World Cup qualifier and they should prove equally tricky opponents in today’s rematch.
Below, we’ve collected a hoard of key stats for the game with info on shots, xG, cards, corners, fouls, goals and more for your reading pleasure. The data we’ve compiled should help you to attack the bet builder markets for Scotland’s clash with Ukraine with more venom.
Predicted Lineups
Scotland will be without skipper Andrew Robertson this evening, which is a big blow to their chances of success. Centre-half Grant Hanley will also miss out with a shoulder complaint.
Steve Clarke is expected to stick with his favoured 3-4-3 set up against Ukraine. With players missing from defence, Celtic’s Greg Taylor should get the nod.
Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko is injured and won’t feature at Hampden Park, while midfielder Mykola Shaparenko picked up an ACL injury while playing for his club Fenerbahce and is a long-term absentee.
Ukraine generally play in a 4-3-3 formation under Oleksandr Petrakov. Watch out for left-sided attacker Mykhailo Mudryk tonight. The 21-year-old has been in dazzling form in the Champions League this season.
Team Stats
Scotland have pocketed six points from nine on offer in Nations League B Group 1 and the underlying stats from their trio of assignments make for favourable reading.
Scotland are posting a healthy 5.09 shots on target and converting 1.64 goals p/90, while conceding just 0.91 times per 90 minutes at the opposite end. The Scots have also drawn a notable 1.91 cards p/90 so far.
Ukraine are notching fewer shots on target p/90 (4.60) than Scotland in the Nations League, though their xG (1.87) is higher, which suggests the calibre of the chances they are creating are better.
Ukraine have been winning very few corners (3.80 p/90), while their cards figures both for (1.70) and against (2.10) per 90 minutes are similar to Scotland’s.
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Southampton star Che Adams ranks highest for shots p/90 for Scotland (2.11) just ahead of Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn (2.10), who often plays a more attack-minded role at international level than he does for his club.
The accuracy of Ryan Fraser’s shooting (1.07 SOT p/90) has been impressive, while wing-back Nathan Patterson (1.29 shots) offers an alternative threat from deeper positions down the right flank.
Experienced campaigner Andriy Yarmolenko (3.04 shots p/90) is never shy about letting fly – something frustrated West Ham fans can testify to – though Atalanta star Ruslan Malinovskyi routinely racks up more attempts (3.89) overall.
Club Brugge’s Roman Yaremchuk (1.08 SOT p/90) is also worth watching in the final third as is winger Mykhailo Mudryk. The Shakhtar Donetsk attacker hasn’t done enough to feature in the international stats just yet, however, he has been hitting 1.0 shots on target per 90 minutes in the Champions League this term.
Player Goals and Assists
With four goals and an assist in his last ten appearances for Scotland, John McGinn has been in productive form, while Che Adams can also be pleased with his three-goal haul during the same period. Both players notched in Scotland’s 4-1 triumph over Armenia in June.
Nathan Patterson’s wicked delivery from wide has allowed him to create two goals. His most recent assist set up John McGinn for his strike against the Armenians in the summer.
Roman Yaremchuk and Andriy Yarmolenko have been turning their lofty shooting stats into goals for Ukraine and the potent pair have chipped in with seven goals in their last 17 appearances combined.
If he doesn’t make the starting XI, watch out for Artem Dovbyk off the bench at Hampden Park. The Dnipro-1 striker buried Ukraine’s equalizer against the Republic of Ireland in June and he has scored three times in his last two run outs for his club.
Scotland Cards
Nathan Patterson (2 cards) hasn’t been taking any prisoners when turning out for Scotland and the aggressive wing-back has been committing 2.90 fouls p/90. Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie has also been sticking the boot in when required (2 cards).
In midfield, John McGinn is all action for Scotland and the 27-year-old has collected two cards for his 1.47 fouls per 90 minutes.
Ukraine Cards Drawn
Viktor Kovalenko is light on appearances, though the midfielder, who plays his club football with Spezia in Italy, tends to draw numerous fouls (3.33 p/90) when he does feature. His collisions with Ryan Christie when he moves deeper to help with Scotland’s defensive workload could be worth tracking this evening.
Ruslan Malinovskyi is a key play-knitter for Ukraine and John McGinn will likely be touch-tight to the Atalanta man when Scotland lose possession. The foul count could be interesting there. Mykhailo Mudryk has been fouled 1.5 times p/90 in the Champions League this term and Nathan Patterson could find it tough to match the winger for pace.
Match-Ups to watch
Nathan Patterson vs Mykhailo Mudryk
Ryan Christie vs Viktor Kovalenko
John McGinn vs Ruslan Malinovskyi
Ukraine Cards
Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko is a card machine at international level and the left back has been booked three times in six appearances for Ukraine.
Ruslan Malinovskyi (2 cards) doesn’t mind lifting his studs when there is dirty work to be done in midfield, while Mykhailo Mudryk (2.50 fouls p/90) can throw his weight around with the best of them when required.
Scotland Cards Drawn
John McGinn is never far from the carnage in midfield and alongside dishing out plenty of punishment himself, the combative Villa enforcer is often on the receiving end too (fouled 2.74 p90). Watch out for Mykhailo Mudryk when he drops in to tighten things up centrally. He could aim a few kicks in McGinn’s direction.
Kieran Tierney’s (fouled 1.63 p/90) raiding runs down the left could be hindered by Andriy Yarmolenko (0.76 fouls, 1 card), who normally fulfils his defensive remit with lazy challenges. While he doesn’t make an appearance in Scotland’s cards drawn list, Nathan Patterson’s head-to-head with club teammate Vitaliy Mykolenko could be worth watching.
Match-Ups to watch
Vitaliy Mykolenko vs Nathan Patterson
Mykhailo Mudryk vs John McGinn
Andriy Yarmolenko vs Kieran Tierney
_______
That’s everything for Scotland vs Ukraine tonight, good luck if you’re having a bet.
Keep stakes sensible and please don’t force a bet for the sake of it. I’d only have a bet on the game if it’s something you’re interested in and planning on watching.
