When Czech Republic and Georgia square off on Tuesday evening, a win for either side would secure promotion to the UEFA Nations League's top tier.
Both League B Group 1 rivals drew their penultimate fixture at the weekend, so the Czechs lead by one point - but Albania and Ukraine are still in contention.
Match preview
© Imago
Ensuring a complicated scenario for Group 1's final round, both games were drawn on Saturday, leaving all four teams separated by just three points.
Czech Republic played out a goalless stalemate with Albania, who they had beaten 2-0 at home last month, and that was good enough to keep them top of the pile by a slim margin.
As a result, their destiny is within their own hands with one match remaining, which seemed unlikely after losing 4-1 to Georgia in the first game of their 2024-25 campaign.
On that occasion, Ivan Hasek's side conceded three goals in the space of 12 second-half minutes, but a subsequent upturn means that they can be confident of gaining revenge in Tuesday's reverse fixture.
After edging out Ukraine in a five-goal thriller, the Czechs then overtook Georgia by claiming four points from two games in October, and bringing another point home from Ukraine has kept their noses in front.
Therefore, they remain on track for promotion back to Europe's top tier at the first time of asking - but in such a tight group, they could still finish third.
© Imago
As things stand, Georgia occupy a promotion playoff place and would meet one of League A's last-placed teams in March, while winning would almost certainly secure top spot.
Yet, if they lose in Olomouc, either Ukraine or Albania could overtake them on the final bend of an eventful promotion race.
Finishing third would also mean entry into a relegation playoff, so there will be plenty at stake when Willy Sagnol's men arrive at Andruv Stadion.
Having taken the Nations League route to Euro 2024 - where they memorably made the last 16 - the Crusaders returned to the competition with back-to-back wins in September; however, two losses last month stalled their progress.
Then, Saturday's 1-1 draw with Ukraine in Batumi - secured by a Georges Mikautadze equaliser deep into the second half - kept the Ukrainians in play and left Georgia's future shrouded in uncertainty.
Team News
© Imago
Czech Republic are without Patrik Schick for a second international period in succession, as the Bayer Leverkusen striker chose to stay in Germany and nurse a minor injury, amid claims of a fall-out with head coach Ivan Hasek.
In Schick's absence, Tomas Chory should continue to lead the line, with support from Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny; several players including Lukas Provod, Adam Hlozek and Ondrej Lingr are vying to join them in the final third.
The hosts are missing defensive trio Ladislav Krejci, Martin Vitik and David Zima due to injury, so the same back four that held Albania at bay should start in front of goalkeeper Matej Kovar.
Meanwhile, Georgia defender Saba Goglichidze is the visitors' most notable absentee, and their back three may remain unchanged; once again, Liverpool-bound Giorgi Mamardashvili features between the posts.
Joint-top scorer at Euro 2024, Georges Mikautadze started on the bench against Ukraine, but he will hope that scoring his 15th international goal is sufficient to win back his place up front.
While the Lyon forward has struck three times in Group 1 so far, Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has not scored for his country since converting a penalty against the Czech Republic at the start of September.
Czech Republic possible starting lineup:
Kovar; Coufal, Jemelka, Holes, Boril; Soucek, Cerv; Cerny, Sulc, Provod; Chory
Georgia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Kvirkvelia, Kashia, Locoshvili; Kakabadze, Kochorashvili, Kiteischvili, Shengelia; Chakvetadze, Kvaratskhelia; Mikautadze
We say: Czech Republic 2-1 Georgia
Gaining sweet revenge for their 4-1 defeat when these nations last met, Czech Republic can get the win that will take them back up into League A.
It could be a close-fought contest between two industrious teams, but the hosts have momentum on their side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
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