Ukraine are currently the surprise leaders of Group B in qualifying for Euro 2020. They are five points clear of second-place European champions Portugal, who have played a game fewer.
On Friday night, Andriy Shevchenko’s team host Lithuania in Kharkiv, with the home side close to sealing qualification for next years European Championships. If Ukraine win in this clash and Serbia fails to win their game the home side will qualify for Euro 2020.
With just three games to go, Ukraine are six points clear of the third-place Serbians, who have an inferior goal difference and head-to-head record to the home side.
Shevchenko’s team have been highly consistent of late in the group, winning their last four qualifiers, including beating Friday’s opponents 3-0 on their own patch last time out. They have also suffered just one defeat in their last 12 qualifiers for the European Championships.
Ukraine have been particularly strong on home soil, winning six of their last seven qualifiers, while keeping five clean sheets in the process.
Lithuania have endured a poor qualifying campaign so far for Euro 2020. They currently sit bottom of Group B, having picked up just one point from their five qualifiers.
The visitor's form has not just been poor in Euro 2020 qualifying, though, as they have failed to win in their last 16 outings in the international game.
Their recent record in European Championship qualifying is poor anyway, as they have won just one of their last 13 qualifiers. Their recent qualifiers have seen the visitors suffer a 4-1 defeat in Serbia, a 3-0 home loss against Friday’s opponents and last time out a 5-1 home hammering by Portugal.
Captain Černych is out, along with three midfielder players, for next two @EuroQualifiers matches in Ukraine and at home vs Serbia, but Novikovas returns.Full squad:https://t.co/CFjVp7vuqo pic.twitter.com/6IxP8cVpz1— Lithuanian FF (@ltfutbolas) October 3, 2019
Captain Černych is out, along with three midfielder players, for next two @EuroQualifiers matches in Ukraine and at home vs Serbia, but Novikovas returns.Full squad:https://t.co/CFjVp7vuqo pic.twitter.com/6IxP8cVpz1
Forebet predicts that Ukraine will record a victory to virtually seal their place at Euro 2020, recording a comfortable win in a high-scoring encounter.