Ukraine vs Switzerland Prediction & Betting Tips - UEFA Nations League

Prediction published on 31/08/2020, 03:54  by James | Modified on 31/08/2020 at 04:54 in UEFA Nations League Predictions

The UEFA Nations League returns this week to give fans their first taste of international football for close to a year. In League A, Ukraine play host to Switzerland for their maiden piece of top-tier Nations League action. Ukraine were promoted to League A after topping their League B group last season. Switzerland were even more impressive in their last Nations League showing, topping a League A group that also featured Belgium and Iceland. A stunning 5-2 win over the Belgians helped them accrue the goal difference necessary to make it to the semi-finals, where they were stopped by a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal. Ukraine and Switzerland have met twice before. More recently, they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in a friendly in 2010. More significantly, their first meeting was a 2006 World Cup knockout stage clash, a famously boring goalless draw in the Round of 16. Ukraine triumphed on penalties. Andriy Shevchenko was the team's star and missed a penalty in the shoot-out. Now he manages the side and he has a reasonable record in charge, only losing five of his 33 games in charge, leaving him with a win rate of 57.6 percent.

Ukraine don't have many goalscorers in their team with West Ham attacker Andriy Yarmolenko being their most potent threat. They are, however, unbeaten in their last 11 matches and have only lost one of their last 21 matches. They have won eight of their last nine home matches, a run that included a 2-1 win over Portugal in Euro 2020 qualifying. Switzerland have recorded much shakier form over the last year or so. They have won their last three matches but failed to win four of their previous five. Away from home, they are particularly poor, failing to win eight of their last 12 matches on the road. The level of opposition on that run was high but Ukraine deserve to be thrown into that bracket on home turf. We suggest backing Ukraine draw no bet.