Ukraine’s experimental lineup under the guidance of Andrea Maldera managed to keep a clean sheet for the second consecutive match. Although victory eluded them, a goalless draw was a fair reflection of the game played in Tbilisi.
Compared to the previous encounter against Hungary, Maldera made ten changes to the starting eleven. There was little cohesion on display, as many of these combinations had yet to be tested in official matches. For instance, this game marked the senior national team debut for Maksym Khlan.
Georgia immediately sought to impose a physical contest from the outset, pressuring their opponents into mistakes. Early on, the hosts nearly punished Valeriy Bondar for losing possession. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia intercepted the ball but passed the shooting opportunity to Otar Kiteishvili, whose attempt was confidently saved by goalkeeper Heorhiy Trubin. A more threatening strike came from Chakvetadze outside the box in the 20th minute, but Trubin was again alert, parrying the ball low to his right.
The third significant chance for the Georgians arrived just before the half-hour mark following another midfield error. Kvaratskhelia charged into the penalty area from the left, but Trubin narrowed the angle effectively, denying the Ballon d’Or contender a shot at the far bottom corner. Ukraine managed their first shot on target only in stoppage time before the break, when Oleksandr Zubkov fired a tame effort straight at the goalkeeper.
At halftime, Maldera made a triple substitution, overhauling the attacking line and introducing Oleh Ocheretko into midfield. This tactical shift minimized the threats at their own goal. Offensively, Ukraine could only muster shots from outside the penalty area, none of which posed real danger but slightly improved their otherwise barren statistics.
The hosts had another opportunity in the 64th minute, again involving Kvaratskhelia at the forefront. However, Trubin once more denied him by blocking a shot with his foot.
The draw gave Ukraine four points from two away matches. Their upcoming fixtures include home-venue games in Slovakia against Northern Ireland on October 2 and Hungary on October 5.
UEFA Nations League 2026-27
Georgia – Ukraine 0:0
Georgia: Mamardashvili; Goglichidze C.; Kakabadze; Dvali; Lochoshvili; Kochorashvili (Egoyan, 92); Kvaratskhelia; Kiteishvili (Mekvabishvili, 73); Chakvetadze (Davitashvili, 73); Tsitaishvili; Mikautadze (Kvernadze, 67)
Substitutions: Kvernadze (67); Mekvabishvili (73); Davitashvili (73); Egoyan (92)
Reserves: Kereselidze; Gugeshashvili; Kharebashvili; Sazonov Sa.; Tabidze; Lobzhanidze S.; Mamageishvili G.; Zivzivadze
Yellow cards: Goglichidze C. 54; Mekvabishvili 81
Ukraine: Trubin; Mikhavko; Bondar V.; Mykhailychenko B.; Sarapiy; Pikhalenok (Ocheretko, 46); Nazaryna; Khlan M. (Shaparenko, 66); Ponomarenko M. (Yaremchuk, 46); Vanat (Sikan, 46); Zubkov (Tsyhankov, 79)
Substitutions: Ocheretko (46); Sikan (46); Yaremchuk (46); Shaparenko (66); Tsyhankov (79)
Reserves: Yermakov H.; Riznyk D.; Matviyenko N.; Zabarnyi; Yarmolenko; Brazhko; Veletin
Yellow cards: Vanat 17; Sikan 46; Bondar V. 75; Ocheretko 89
