Ukraine vs Belgium

Estadio Enrique Roca sets the stage for the first leg of a tasty-looking UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie between Ukraine and Belgium.

Amid unrest in their homeland, Ukraine have a chance to lift spirits in the Nations League and make amends for a sloppy Euro 2024 campaign. They face Belgium in a two-legged tie to decide who stays in League A, though their ‘home’ leg in Murcia, Spain, puts them at a disadvantage. Without a ‘true’ home game since November 2021, the Ukrainians have adapted well to neutral venues, losing just once in 12 designated ‘home’ matches (W5, D6). After ending their Nations League B campaign strongly (W2, D2), including a gutsy 2-1 win at Albania on the final matchday, they’ll believe they can upset hot pre-round favorites Belgium.

As for Belgium, they have their own reasons for confidence, having never been relegated from League A since the Nations League’s inception seven years ago. However, they risk unwanted history after losing four of their last five matches in this competition (D1), a run that ended Domenico Tedesco’s tenure. ‘De Rode Duivels’ only avoided automatic relegation to League B due to a superior H2H goal difference over Israel in Group A2. Their last international also came on neutral ground, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Israel in Budapest. Another loss would mark an inauspicious start for Rudi Garcia, as Belgium haven’t gone more than five games without a win since 2009.