The Bernabeu provides the venue for this second round fixture in this League A Group 4 clash between Spain and Ukraine with a precious three points at stake for both teams.
At the time of writing, Spain haven’y yet met Germany in the group opener but either way, the Spanish will be keen to grab the spoils here as they fight it out with either Germany or Switzerland as their likely contenders for the top spot in this group.
⏱️ ¡FINAL EN STUTTGART!💪🏻 ¡El gol in extremis de @jose_gaya nos da un punto importantísmo ante Alemania!🇩🇪🆚🇪🇸 | 1-1 | 90+6' |#SomosEspaña 🇪🇸#SomosFederación pic.twitter.com/8gzEpatViQ— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) September 3, 2020
⏱️ ¡FINAL EN STUTTGART!💪🏻 ¡El gol in extremis de @jose_gaya nos da un punto importantísmo ante Alemania!🇩🇪🆚🇪🇸 | 1-1 | 90+6' |#SomosEspaña 🇪🇸#SomosFederación pic.twitter.com/8gzEpatViQ
Not that Ukraine should be ignored either in what looks to be a very tough group indeed, but Spain will be eager to go one step better this time around in this Nations League competition after being pipped at the post by Group 4 winners, England, in the inaugural campaign.
After making an impressive start with victories over England 2-1 away and a crushing 6-0 win against Croatia at home, Spain inexplicably imploded in their remaining two group matches as they slumped to a 3-2 loss at home to England nd then lost by the same margin away at Croatia.
However, Spain moved up through the gears in the subsequent Euro qualifiers by winning Group F without being defeated and they’re unbeaten in their last 11 matches overall, winning nine of these.
Onto Ukraine, and the visitors grabbed top spot in the inaugural version of the Nations League last time out by winning three of their League B Group 1 matches in a group that included the likes of Czech Republic and Slovakia, so they headed into the European qualifiers in confident mood.
The Ukrainian’s confidence was well-placed too as they beat off the opposition from Portugal to finish top of Group B and three points ahead of Ronaldo and Co and also remained unbeaten throughout the group stages.
Six wins and two draws was a solid effort from Ukraine who registered notable wins against Serbia 5-0 at home while the particular highlight of the successful campaign overall was a 2-1 win over Portugal to clinch top spot and automatic qualification for what will now be Euro 2021.
Results away from home though have been on the tentative side for Ukraine who have managed to pick up just two wins from their last seven matches on their travels which were at minnows, Luxembourg and Lithuania, and they need to prove if they can live with the likes of Spain in their opponents’ own backyard.
Spain should therefore edge this one.