Four matches. Four clean sheets. Eight points. And somehow, Northern Ireland still haven’t scored a goal at Windsor Park in this Nations League campaign.

Michael O’Neill has turned his side into one of Europe’s most stubborn opponents, but the Green and White Army would probably appreciate having something to celebrate at the other end this Saturday.

Northern Ireland welcome Ukraine to Belfast knowing that promotion to League A is firmly within reach. They’re unbeaten in Group B2, sit one point clear of Hungary and have yet to concede a single goal.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for a country that once went 14 Nations League matches without winning.

Their latest outing, a goalless draw against Georgia, wasn’t particularly entertaining. Neither was September’s 0-0 stalemate with Hungary. But between those two results came a performance that demonstrated Northern Ireland are capable of considerably more.

A stunning 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Trnava.

That result changed the complexion of Group B2. Northern Ireland moved into a commanding position, while Ukraine were left chasing a promotion place that had previously looked attainable.

Andrea Maldera’s side have since suffered another defeat, losing 2-1 against Hungary. They arrive in Belfast four points behind their opponents, with their chances of promotion hanging by a thread.

Ukraine have scored just twice in four Nations League matches. That hardly inspires confidence ahead of a trip to face the only team in the competition yet to concede.

However, Northern Ireland have their own attacking limitations.

O’Neill’s side have scored four goals in four matches, with three arriving in that exceptional victory over Ukraine. Their defensive record has been outstanding, but they cannot rely on keeping clean sheets indefinitely.

Saturday’s encounter therefore presents an interesting tactical battle. Ukraine need to attack, while Northern Ireland have every reason to remain patient and exploit the spaces their opponents leave behind.

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What are the best betting tips for Northern Ireland vs Ukraine?

Northern Ireland to win to nil

Northern Ireland’s defensive record is becoming difficult to ignore.

Four consecutive clean sheets in this Nations League campaign represent their longest such run in the competition. They have also gone five successive home Nations League matches without conceding.

O’Neill has built a compact, disciplined side that rarely allows opponents the freedom to create clear opportunities. Shea Charles provides protection in midfield, while Trai Hume and Ciaron Brown contribute to a well-organised defensive unit.

Ukraine’s attacking problems strengthen the argument. Maldera’s side have scored only twice in four group fixtures and failed to find the net against Northern Ireland in October.

The visitors will need to take more risks this time, which could leave opportunities for Northern Ireland on the counterattack.

A home victory without conceding is considerably more ambitious than simply backing Northern Ireland to avoid defeat. However, the hosts’ defensive consistency makes it an appealing selection.

Isaac Price to score or assist

Price has developed into one of Northern Ireland’s most important attacking players.

The West Bromwich Albion midfielder has scored five goals in 10 Nations League appearances, an impressive return for a player who doesn’t operate as an orthodox centre-forward.

His ability to arrive in dangerous positions should be particularly valuable against Ukraine.

The visitors cannot afford to spend the entire match defending. With Hungary ahead of them in the table, they need a positive result to keep their promotion ambitions alive.

That could create space for Price to exploit, particularly when Northern Ireland regain possession and attack quickly.

Jamie Donley’s movement and the width provided by Hume and Justin Devenny should also create opportunities for Price to influence the final third.

The score-or-assist market offers two routes to a return without relying exclusively on Northern Ireland producing another comfortable victory.

Ukraine under 0.5 team goals

Backing Ukraine to draw another blank is a riskier selection than the conventional under 2.5 goals market, but there is a strong statistical argument behind it.

Northern Ireland have not conceded in four Nations League matches this season. Their defensive record is no longer simply the product of facing weaker opposition, either.

They kept Hungary quiet in Belfast and restricted Ukraine to a goalless afternoon in Trnava, despite the visitors possessing several experienced attacking players.

Ukraine have also struggled to convert possession into meaningful opportunities. Two goals in four group matches underline their difficulties in the final third.

The main concern is that Northern Ireland may face sustained pressure if Ukraine fall behind. A single mistake, set piece or moment of individual quality would be enough to defeat this selection.

Nevertheless, O’Neill’s defensive organisation makes another clean sheet a credible outcome.

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How to watch Northern Ireland vs Ukraine

• Date: Saturday, 14 November 2026

• Kick-off: 7:45 pm GMT

• Competition: UEFA Nations League, League B Group 2

• Venue: Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park, Belfast

• UK TV: BBC Two

• UK streaming: BBC iPlayer

Predicted formation: 3-4-2-1

Predicted XI: Pierce Charles; Atcheson, McConville, Brown; Hume, Galbraith, Shea Charles, Devenny; Price, Kelly; Donley.

Michael O’Neill is without several established players. Sunderland defender Dan Ballard, Eoin Toal and Jamie McDonnell are injured, while Alistair McCann remains unavailable. Arsenal youngster Ceadach O’Neill has also withdrawn from the squad.

The absence of Ballard leaves Northern Ireland short of experience in central defence. Ruairi McConville, Tom Atcheson and Ciaron Brown could form the back three, with Paddy McNair another option.

Trai Hume should provide energy on the right, while Ethan Galbraith and Shea Charles are expected to operate centrally. Isaac Price and Patrick Kelly could support Jamie Donley in attack.

Portsmouth striker Eoin Kenny and Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee have received their first senior call-ups. Both could make their international debuts during the November fixtures.

Ukraine predicted lineup and team news

Predicted formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted XI: Trubin; Krupskyi, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Yarmoliuk, Nazaryna; Kashchuk, Sudakov, Nazarenko; Dovbyk.

Andrea Maldera has been forced into changes following injuries to Oleksandr Zubkov and Matviy Ponomarenko. Zubkov is sidelined with a stress fracture of the tibia, while Ponomarenko withdrew after suffering an injury against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Artem Dovbyk has been called up as Ponomarenko’s replacement and could lead the attack. Roman Yaremchuk, Danylo Sikan and Vladyslav Vanat provide alternatives.

Ukraine have several established defensive options available. Illia Zabarnyi could partner Mykola Matviyenko, with Vitaliy Mykolenko at left-back and Anatoliy Trubin in goal.

Georgiy Sudakov should provide creativity behind the striker, while Yehor Yarmoliuk and Yehor Nazaryna offer energy in midfield. Maldera must decide whether to adopt a more attacking formation after Ukraine struggled to create chances in the reverse fixture.

Northern Ireland vs Ukraine stats

• Northern Ireland lead Nations League Group B2 with eight points from four matches.

• Hungary are second with seven points, Ukraine third with four and Georgia fourth with two.

• Northern Ireland are unbeaten in all four group fixtures, winning two and drawing two.

• O’Neill’s side have scored four goals and conceded none.

• Northern Ireland are the only team yet to concede in the 2026/27 Nations League.

• Their four consecutive clean sheets represent their longest run in the competition.

• Northern Ireland are unbeaten in eight consecutive Nations League matches, winning four and drawing four.

• They have not lost any of their previous seven home Nations League fixtures.

• Northern Ireland have kept five consecutive home clean sheets in the competition.

• They failed to win any of their first 14 Nations League matches before their recent improvement.

• Northern Ireland defeated Ukraine 3-0 in Trnava on 2 October.

• Isaac Price has scored five goals in 10 Nations League appearances.

• Ukraine have collected four points from their opening four group matches.

• Maldera’s side have scored twice and conceded five goals.

• Ukraine have lost their previous two Nations League matches.

• They have failed to score in two of their four group fixtures.

• Northern Ireland will secure a top-two finish if they avoid defeat against Ukraine.

• Northern Ireland can secure first place on Saturday if they win and Hungary lose to Georgia.

Northern Ireland vs Ukraine prediction

O’Neill’s side have established themselves as the most defensively reliable team in this Nations League campaign, and that gives them a significant advantage heading into Saturday’s encounter.

Ukraine possess greater individual attacking quality than their recent results suggest. Sudakov, Dovbyk and Yarmoliuk are capable of creating problems, particularly if the visitors can establish control in midfield.

However, Maldera’s side have struggled to turn possession into goals.

Northern Ireland’s defensive organisation should make that task even harder, especially with the hosts having already demonstrated their ability to frustrate Ukraine in the reverse fixture.

The main concern for O’Neill is his team’s attacking record at Windsor Park. Consecutive goalless draws against Hungary and Georgia suggest Northern Ireland may need to be patient.

Price could be particularly important. His movement from midfield provides a threat that Ukraine must account for, while Donley can create space by dropping between the lines.

With promotion at stake, Northern Ireland have every reason to approach the match cautiously. Ukraine, by contrast, need to take risks.

That difference could prove decisive.

A narrow home victory looks the most likely outcome, with Northern Ireland extending their remarkable defensive record and taking another significant step towards League A.

Score prediction: Northern Ireland 1-0 Ukraine

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