Scotland and Ukraine meet once again in what looks to be a crucial fixture for both teams.
A win for Scotland would see them take Ukraine’s position at the top of Group B in the Nations League, whilst a win for Ukraine would extend their lead in the group. There is history between the two sides, with Scotland looking for revenge after losing to Ukraine in the semi-final of the World Cup Qualifiers.
The stakes are high for both teams and I reckon things could get ugly. Here’s some potential player cards to keep an eye on.
Scotland v Ukraine Predicted Line-ups
Scotland’s possible starting lineup (3-4-3): Gordon; Hendry, Hanley, McKenna; Patterson, McGinn, McGregor, Tierney; Fraser, Adams, Christie
Ukraine’s possible starting lineup (4-3-3): Lunin; Karavayev, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Kovalenko, Sydorchuk, Malinovskyi; Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Mudryk
John McGinn
The newly promoted captain of Aston Villa is someone who has been known for a booking in his career. He’s managed two in just seven appearances in the Premier League, however this could easily be more, as he somehow managed to escape a yellow against Southampton last Friday night. He’s not afraid to get stuck in, shown by the fact he ranks second for Aston Villa in both tackles won and fouls made. He will no doubt continue this hunger with the Scotland side.
When with Scotland, McGinn’s most recent yellows have come in the crucial games – against England in the Euro’s, and against both Israel and Ukraine in the World Cup Qualifiers. This game against Ukraine tonight is another one of these decisive games, with Scotland having the chance to top Group B with a win. With his recent record in big games, it’s no coincidence that McGinn is one of the favourites for a yellow here.
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Ruslan Malinovskyi
The second player I’ve singled out for a booking is midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi. He’s picked up yellow cards throughout his entire career, managing to receive 20 bookings in Serie A over the last three seasons. He’s continued that trend this season, already being booked twice in just four starts in the league. In fact, he came on against Roma on Sunday in the 88th minute and managed to get booked just six minutes later.
For the National Team, Malinovskyi’s not much different. He was booked three times in four games during the 2020/21 Nations League, and will no doubt continue that form this campaign. Against Scotland, he’ll most likely be coming up against McGinn in the middle of the park, who was the second most fouled player in the Premier League last year. Malinovskyi looks generously priced for a booking.
Nathan Patterson
The young right-back appears to have cemented his place within the Everton starting 11, having started every Premier League game so far. Although he’s only been booked once in the league this season, he ranks fifth in the Everton squad for fouls made. His only yellow came in the 1-1 draw against Leeds at Elland Road.
His last four bookings have all been for poorly timed tackles, and he could be up against the talented Mykhailo Mudryk. Mudryk showcased what he’s capable of against Celtic in the last gameweek of the Champions League, giving the Scottish champions a real problem down their right-hand side whilst also managing to grab himself a goal. Mudryk will look to get at Patterson in a one versus one scenario, which could end badly for the right-back.
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Written by an Andy verified content writer
18+ please gamble responsibly.
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How to watch Scotland v Ukraine in the Nations League?
📅 When is Scotland v Ukraine? / Wednesday, 21st September 2022, 7:45PM
🏟 Where is Scotland v Ukraine? / Hampden Park (Glasgow)
📺 What TV channel is Scotland v Ukraine on? / ITV 4
🟨 …And who is the referee for Scotland v Ukraine? / M. Mariani 🇮🇹
