Scotland v Ukraine predictions: Visiting forwards can make their mark at Hampden

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Scotland v Ukraine in the Nations League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

ITV4 & Premier Sports 2, 7.45pm Wednesday

Best bet

Over 1.5 Ukraine goals
3pts 9-4 bet365, Hills

Team news

Scotland
Captain Andy Robertson is injured and Grant Hanley, Jacob Brown and Jon McLaughlin have withdrawn from the squad. Celtic's Greg Taylor could come into the back three and goalkeeper Craig Gordon is expected to shake off a knock.

Ukraine
Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) and Mykola Shaparenko (knee) are missing for the visitors.

Match preview

Ukraine's forwards ended Scotland's hopes of reaching the World Cup with a 3-1 playoff semi-final win at Hampden Park in June and they may well enjoy their return to Glasgow in the Nations League on Wednesday evening.

Steve Clarke's Scotland side came into the playoffs in great heart after winning their last six qualifying matches including a 2-0 home victory over Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark.

However, Ukraine's players rose to the occasion and goals from winger Andriy Yarmolenko and striker Roman Yaremchuk either side of half-time put them in control of the tie.

Callum McGregor's 79th-minute strike gave the Scots hope but Artem Dovbyk sealed Ukraine's victory deep into injury-time, setting up a playoff final against Wales in Cardiff.

The visitors, who had eight shots on target against Scotland, continued in the same vein in the final, forcing Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey into several fine saves.

A Gareth Bale free-kick, headed into his own net by the luckless Yarmolenko, sent Wales to the finals in Qatar but Ukraine immediately bounced back by beating Ireland 1-0 and Armenia 3-0 in the Nations League.

It took a sensational solo goal from Ireland centre-back Nathan Collins to end Ukraine's winning start in Group B1 with a 1-1 draw in Krakow, but a positive approach can be expected from Oleksandr Petrakov's men at Hampden.

Yarmolenko, scorer of 45 international goals in 109 appearances, and the dangerous Yaremchuk are likely to start in attack alongside highly-rated young winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, who scored in Shakhtar Donetsk's stunning 4-1 win at RB Leipzig on matchday one of the Champions League group stage.

Ukraine are 9-4 to find the net at least twice and that appeals more than their price to win the game as Scotland's recent internationals have been high-scoring affairs.

After their World Cup playoff disappointment they beat Armenia 2-0 and 4-1 in the Nations League either side of a 3-0 defeat away to an Ireland side who are not renowned for their attacking talent.

Scotland let slip 1-0 and 2-0 leads in friendly draws with Poland and Austria earlier this year and their defence is hard to trust with skipper Andy Robertson and experienced centre-half Grant Hanley among the injury absentees.

Key stat

Scotland have conceded nine goals in their last five internationals.

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