We are reaching the conclusion of the group stages in the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League and on the 24th of September we have a meeting between Scotland and Ireland.
The game will be played at Hampden Park and as things stand in Nations League B Group 1, Scotland are top on 9 points while Ireland are in third place on 4 points.
A goal from Super John McGinn and a brace from substitute Lyndon Dykes saw Scotland beat Ukraine and take all three points to go top of Group B1.These are your highlights from Scotland 3-0 Ukraine.#SCOUKR pic.twitter.com/UL71r50XF5— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) September 22, 2022
A goal from Super John McGinn and a brace from substitute Lyndon Dykes saw Scotland beat Ukraine and take all three points to go top of Group B1.These are your highlights from Scotland 3-0 Ukraine.#SCOUKR pic.twitter.com/UL71r50XF5
Scotland come into the game on the back of a 3-0 home win over Ukraine in the Nations League on Wednesday night. This was a rearranged match from earlier in the competition and Scotland were the better team for most of the match and deserved to win.
However, they were forced to wait until the 70th minute to open the scoring and added two more goals inside the final 10 minutes to seal a crucial victory.
That result means Scotland have won 3 of their last 4 matches, all of which have come in the Nations League.
There have been wins over Armenia home and away plus the recent win over Ukraine at home. The defeat came away at Ireland and was a disappointing 3-0 loss.
Scotland’s recent home form in the Nations League has been good and they are undefeated in their 7 home games in the competition. Scotland have won each of their last 4 home Nations League fixtures and have kept a clean sheet in all 4 of those matches.
Ireland make the short journey to Hampden Park having last played in the Nations League on the 14th of June against Ukraine.
The match ended 1-1 in Poland and Ireland took the lead just after the half hour only for Ukraine to score an equaliser shortly after half time.
That result means Ireland have recorded only 1 win form their last 4 games, all of which have been in the Nations League. The victory was a good 3-0 win over Scotland in the reverse fixture but there was a hugely disappointing 1-0 defeat in Armenia and a 1-0 loss at home to Ukraine.
In terms of the Nations League, Ireland have recorded only 1 win from their 15 matches in the competition, which is a poor record.
They have yet to win a game on the road in the Nations League and have lost 3 of their last 4 away matches in the competition, failing to score a goal in those 3 defeats.
Team news and Scotland may be forced to make a few changes from the team that played Ukraine. Aaron Hickey is set to start at fullback, with Ryan Fraser and Lyndon Dykes also pushing for a place in the starting XI.
Ireland do not have many goals in their squad, with James McClean their top scorer with 11 goals. Gavin Bazunu is a good young goalkeeper while Shane Duffy, Séamus Coleman, and Matt Doherty provide plenty of experience in defence.
Scotland have been good defensively when playing at home recently in the Nations League whereas Ireland have been struggling for goals on the road.
That suggests a clean sheet for Scotland and just a single goal will be enough for Scotland to take maximum points.