UEFA Nations League

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Nations League | League A

Nov 17, 2020 at 7.45pm UK

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Switzerland
3 - 0
Ukraine

Preview

Football

Preview: Switzerland vs. Ukraine - prediction, team news, lineups

By Brett Curtis, Reporter

Published: November 15 2020 | 13:12

Last updated: June 5 2024 | 13:46

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Nations League clash between Switzerland and Ukraine, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Switzerland host Ukraine on Tuesday in the UEFA Nations League, with both sides looking to avoid relegation from League A Group 4.

The visitors will remain in League A should they avoid being defeated by two or more goals by their opponents.

Match preview

Remo Freuler celebrates scoring for Switzerland on November 14, 2020 © Reuters

Switzerland kept alive their hopes of remaining in Europe's top tier for the next edition of the Nations League with a 1-1 draw against Spain on Saturday.

Atalanta midfielder Remo Freuler gave his country the lead in the 26th minute, with Vladimir Petkovic's side getting plenty of men behind the ball as Spain's possession game was largely sterile in front of them.

However, Borussia Monchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi earned himself a second yellow card in the 79th minute, with Gerard Moreno punishing him and Switzerland as a whole with a late equaliser in the 89th minute.

That goal means that the Swiss must now defeat Ukraine by two or more goals in order to finish ahead of them in the group on goal difference and head to head, having lost 2-1 in Ukraine in September.

Ukraine's Roman Yaremchuk pictured on November 14, 2020 © Reuters

Ukraine travelled to Germany on Saturday with hopes of topping the group still in tact. However, those came to a crashing end with a 3-1 defeat.

Gent striker Roman Yaremchuk had given his country the lead in the 12th minute, but that turned out to be Andriy Shevchenko's side's only shot on target in the entire match as Leroy Sane and Timo Werner struck to give the Germans a 2-1 lead heading into the break.

Werner sealed the three points with a fine finish just after the hour mark, which leaves the Germans in pole position in the group and Ukraine at risk of relegation.

However, Shevchenko's side are generally well organised and there is little doubt that Switzerland will find it tough to overcome them by the comfortable margin they require to overhaul them in the group.

Switzerland Nations League form: LDLDD
Switzerland form (all competitions): DLLDLD

Ukraine Nations League form: WLLWL
Ukraine form (all competitions): LLLWLL

Team News

Switzerland's Fabian Schar during training on July 2, 2018 © Reuters

Elvedi will miss his country's final Nations League match through suspension, so Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar is likely to start having served his suspension against Spain.

Petkovic's other option is to bring in 18-year-old Becir Omeragic for his first senior start having made his international debut as a substitute against Spain, or an extra midfielder into the side as he looks for a decisive win to secure survival.

Otherwise, though, Petkovic is likely to go with the same side which performed admirably against the Spaniards and looked like recording an upset prior to Elvedi's red card.

West Ham United forward Andriy Yarmolenko missed Ukraine's defeat to Germany through injury and is unlikely to be risked for the trip to Switzerland.

Indeed, Shevchenko was only able to name nine substitutes and hinted he will look to call up a few more players if possible. However, Serhiy Sydorchuk's return from suspension will provide a more steely presence in front of a back four which will need to perform well to keep their nation in the top tier of Europe.

Switzerland possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Fernandes, Freuler, Xhaka, Zuber; Shaqiri; Embolo, Seferovic

Ukraine possible starting lineup:
Pyatov; Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Sobol; Malinvoskiy, Sydorchuk, Zinchenko; Marlos, Yaremchuk, Zubkov

SM words green background

We say: Switzerland 2-1 Ukraine

We can see Switzerland performing well and really taking the game to a Ukraine side lacking in confidence at present, but think it might be a step too far for them to get the two goal win they require to survive in League A of the Nations League.

Top betting tip

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