Ukraine and Germany to serve up a bevy of goals
Both Ukraine and Germany will be looking to put disappointing friendly performances and results behind them for this crucial UEFA Nations League encounter. The winner of the tie will be hoping Spain slip up against Switzerland in the other group fixture to potentially leapfrog them at the summit of the fourth pool. 14 goals were scored on Wednesday night in their respective games, and this has all the makings of a similar goal-fest. Read our preview here:
Ukraine in pain
The legendary figure of Andriy Shevchenko could look on forlorn in the dugout as the Yellow and Blues were demolished away to world champions France by a six-goal margin. Admittedly, it's difficult to glean too much from an encounter where the eastern Europeans were, and will continue to be, without some of their key men, both through positive COVID-19 tests and injuries. The hosts will struggle to see the ball, and that would be true even if at full strength. The head coach will sincerely be hoping that nothing happens to goalkeeper Heorhiy Buschchan, as he is the only available stopper they have. The custodian will need to be at his best to deal with the barrage of chances the visitors are likely to create, and the likes of Andriy Yarmolenko and Ruslan Malinovsky up top will be crucial in keeping them competitive.
Serge could Gnab the limelight
Joachim Löw also has some selection issues to wrestle with, but not nearly on the same scale as his opposite number. The 3-3 draw against Turkey is yet more proof that the defensive stoutness Die Mannschaft had enjoyed prior to the World Cup two years ago is a distant dream with no obvious solution to the problems at the back. Nevertheless, they ought to dictate midfield from the get-go. Toni Kroos will bring the ball from one box to another, feeding the likes of Timo Werner and Serge Gnabry. The latter has an extremely impressive record of a goal for every one of his 13 caps to date, and he will fancy his chances of at least keeping up that feat on Saturday evening in Kiev.
Germany back in contention
Whilst it won't quite be the level of one-way traffic Ukraine had to endure in Paris, Germany will fancy themselves as strong favourites against the shell-shocked home outfit. Their group rivals could play out a cagey, low-scoring affair to the west, but that is unlikely to be the case in the Olympic Stadium. Betfair are offering generous odds of 11.00 for there to be over 5.5 goals, and though on paper that does sound like a high threshold, it's important to remember that both sides are far stronger in attack than they are in their respective rearguards.
