Georgia welcome North Macedonia to Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena on Thursday, with the two nations just one game away from qualify for next summer’s European Championship.
Georgia beat Belarus 1-0 in their playoff last month, while North Macedonia edged Kosovo 2-1 to reach this stage.
Vladimir Weiss’ side head into this clash on a five-game unbeaten streak (two wins, three draws), which has seen them go joint-top of their Nations League group.
Georgia have managed to keep two clean sheets during that period, although it’s fair to say the team have struggled for goals lately.
In fact, Georgia have only scored over 1.5 goals in one of their previous five outings, producing a 2-2 draw with Armenia last month.
Tornike Okriashvili is the danger man for Georgia. The Anorthosis attacking midfielder has netted in each of his previous three international appearances.
He also recently scored in four consecutive games in the Cypriot top-flight, so he clearly knows where the back of the net is.
Meanwhile, North Macedonia are enjoying a decent run of their own. They come into this clash on a six-game unbeaten streak (three wins, three draws).
In fact, Igor Angelovski’s team have only suffered two defeats in their previous 11 outings (five wins, three draws).
North Macedonia have managed to score over 1.5 goals in four of their last five victories, although they have only managed to keep one clean sheet in that time.
A 3-3 draw with Estonia last month sums up the team perfectly. North Macedonia like to attack, but their reckless approach often leaves them exposed at the back.
Head-to-head: Funnily enough, these two teams have been drawn in the same Nations League group this year.
The countries have already clashed twice recently, with both meetings ending in a 1-1 draw, so there is very little to separate the two teams at the moment.
Team news: Along with the in-form Okriashvili, exciting 19-year-old Zurab Davitashvili is one to keep an eye on in the Georgian team.
Rubin Kazan winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is also dangerous, with two goals and five assists in 14 Russian Premier League games this term.
As for North Macedonia, record goalscorer Goran Pandev remains a threat, even at the ripe old age of 37.
Midfielders Enis Bardhi (Levante), Eljif Elmas (Napoli) and Ezgjan Alioski (Leeds United) are some other notable names.
In the two recent meetings between these nations, there has been nothing between the teams. They have faced each home and away, with both matches ending 1-1.
Forebet predicts that Georgia and North Macedonia will produce another low-scoring draw on Thursday, forcing the tie to extra-time.