Fresh from an enthralling five-goal success over North Macedonia, Ukraine go in search of back-to-back wins when they host Malta in Monday's Euro 2024 qualifying Group C.

Sergiy Rebrov's side came back from 2-0 down to defeat the Lynxes 3-2 on Friday, while Michele Marcolini's side were put to the sword 4-0 by England on their own turf.

Match preview

© Reuters

A few days on from throwing away a two-goal lead in a 3-3 friendly draw with Germany, Ukraine had clearly learned their lessons from that six-goal spectacular and took a leaf out of Die Mannschaft's comeback manual during their showdown with North Macedonia.

The Blue and Yellow entered half time with their heads dropped after conceding to Enis Bardhi and Eljif Elmas, but Rebrov's half-time team talk appeared to invoke a fire within the Ukrainian bellies, as Viktor Tsygankov, Ilya Zabarnyi and Yukhym Konoplya completed a terrific turnaround.

By putting a first win on the board in Group C at the second attempt - having kicked off their qualification campaign with a 2-0 loss to England - Ukraine have suddenly surged to second place in the standings, although reigning champions Italy are also sitting on three points at this embryonic stage.

Such a ranking would send Ukraine through to their fourth successive Euros finals as they endeavour to match or better their run to the quarter-finals two years ago, but shoring up the rearguard must be priority number one for Rebrov if his nation are to keep Italy at bay, as the Blue and Yellow have now shipped eight goals in their last three affairs.

However, the hosts have a six-game unbeaten run on home soil to protect - although five of those contests have ended level - and they have five wins to show from their last five Euro qualifying games on their own patch and will be firm favourites to prolong Maltese misery on Monday.

© Reuters

While the Ta' Qali faithful were in brilliant voice during the visit of England on Friday night, the Three Lions stuck to the task at hand and comfortably dispatched Marcolini's troops, who had no answer to England's four goals on the evening.

Ferdinando Apap's own goal, Trent Alexander-Arnold's stunner and Harry Kane's penalty put the tie to bed before the break, and while Malta shut up shop effectively for most of the second half, a harshly-awarded spot kick for handball gave Callum Wilson the chance to score his second goal for his country.

A 1-0 friendly success over Luxembourg on June 9 would have been taken with a pinch of salt by some, and Malta are already at risk of being cut adrift at the foot of Group C, failing to pick up a single point so far and only scoring a solitary goal against North Macedonia.

Defeat to England stretched the visitors' abysmal losing run in Euro qualifying games to 12 matches since a 2-1 beating of the Faroe Islands in 2019, and if those statistics were not alarming enough, Malta have never won an away match during a Euros qualifying cycle.

Malta are very rarely the favourites on paper, but the Falcons remarkably ripped up the form book to defeat Ukraine 1-0 in a 2017 friendly during their only previous meeting - lightning striking twice in Trnava would be some story indeed.

Team News

© Reuters

Ukraine lost midfielder Oleksandr Pikhalyonok and defender Valeriy Bondar to injury prior to their win over North Macedonia, but the duo only have nine caps between them, and Rebrov's team came through Friday's success unscathed.

The hosting manager's decision to bring Konoplya off the bench at half time paid dividends, and the right-back could now be a straight swap for Oleksandr Tymchyk in the rearguard.

Despite failing to make his mark at Chelsea so far, Mykhaylo Mudryk assisted Ukraine's final two goals on Friday and will now aim to break his own duck at the 12th attempt before jetting off to the Under-21 European Championships.

As for Malta, Marcolini has no fresh issues to report from their thumping at the hands of England, where Union SG lynchpin Teddy Teuma was passed fit to start after a previous injury scare.

However, Matthew Guillaumier - who gave away the game's first penalty - was taken off at half time and may be fearing for his place in the engine room, as Jake Grech and Nicky Muscat put their hands up for starts.

The latter's namesake Zach Muscat came up with the only goal when Malta defeated Ukraine six years ago, and the Farense defender is a surefire starter at the back.

Ukraine possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Mykolenko; Tsygankov, Stepanenko, Sudakov, Mudryk; Yarmolenko, Dovbyk

Malta possible starting lineup:
Bonello; Apap, Borg, Muscat; Mbong, Guillaumier, Teuma, Kristensen, Attard; Jones, Nwoko

We say: Ukraine 3-0 Malta

Ukraine may need a lesson or two in keeping the back door shut, but Malta's goal-shy charges are unlikely to trouble Rebrov's backline in what should be a foregone conclusion from the first whistle.

With a taste for goals and plenty of attackers in fine form for the national team, we can envisage Ukraine coming up with another trio of goals to maintain their push for a place in Germany.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Ben Knapton

Previews by email