? Race for Top Spot: Portugal vs Ukraine Preview

Date: Monday 14th October 2019

Time: 19:45 (UK)

Venue: SK Olimpijs'kyj

Previous match result: Portugal 0-0 Ukraine

Andriy Shevchenko's side have been in strong scoring form, while the visitors lead by Cristiano Ronaldo have always been dangerous in the final third. So, Ukraine should make everything to take at least 1 point in this clash.

Both teams are unbeaten and in strong form heading into the clash, with their previous meeting back in March ending goalless in Lisbon.

Team News & Tactics:

Portugal

Like Shevchenko, Fernando Santos has a very settled side at his disposal and will only make one or two changes to the side that beat Luxembourg last time out. The major absentee for the visitors is William Carvalho, although Danilo Pereira is a top deputy for the Real Betis midfielder.

Danilo should line up as the deepest of the three midfielders once again, with Bruno Fernandes another certain starter in the middle of the park. Joao Moutinho, though, should make way for Wolves teammate Ruben Neves, who will pull the strings in midfield for Portugal.

At the back, there is no looking past Rui Patricio between the sticks, while Pepe and Ruben Dias are the first-choice partnership at the heart of Portugal’s defence. Raphael Guerreiro picks himself as the left-back, while the in-form Nelson Semedo will start on the opposite flank.

Santos is spoilt for choice but is unlikely to look past the exciting triumvirate of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and Joao Felix, with Goncalo Guedes among those who miss out again.

Ukraine

Shevchenko does not have any fresh injury concerns to deal with ahead of the visit of Portugal on Monday. With a winning combination at his disposal, the Ukraine head coach is not expected to tinker around much, if at all.

Andriy Pyatov is a certain starter in goal for Ukraine and will don the armband for the hosts against Portugal yet again. The defensive line should remain unchanged as well, with Serhiy Bolbat and Eduard Sobol being the two full-backs who will provide the width in the final third, while Serhiy Kryvtsov and Mykola Matviyenko will form the central defensive partnership.

Taras Stepanenko ought to continue reprising the role of the Anchor Man in front of defence while also having the responsibility of connecting defence with the attack. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ruslan Malinovskyi, the twin-goal hero against Lithuania, will take up the advanced midfield positions in the final third.

Andriy Yarmolenko and Marlos are expected to continue as the two wide men, with the duo tasked with cutting in to create overloads in central areas. Roman Yaremchuk should return to the lineup, with Junior Moraes struggling to settle in at international level.

Key Statistics:

-Ukraine and Portugal will lock horns for the fourth time today. The honors are even as far as the head-to-head record is concerned, with Ukraine and Portugal having one win apiece so far (D1).

-Both Ukraine and Portugal are unbeaten in their UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying campaigns. While the hosts have won five of their six games (D1), the Seleccao have managed just three victories in five outings (D2).

-Ukraine have a miserable record in games in Kyiv, winning just one of their six games in the capital city (D2 L3).

-Ukraine have won their three home games in Group B of the UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers without conceding a goal.

-Cristiano Ronaldo is one goal away from completing 700 strikes in his career, club and country included.

Probable Starting Lineups:

Portugal XI (4-3-3):

Patricio; Semedo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Fernandes, Danilo, Neves; Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Felix

Ukraine XI (4-1-4-1):

Pyatov; Bolbat, Kryvtsov, Matviyenko, Sobol; Stepanenko; Yarmolenko, Zinchenko, Malinovskyi, Marlos; Yaremchuk