Ukraine vs Spain Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

Spain visit Ukraine on Tuesday evening in a bid to maintain their position at the top of Group A4 in the Nations League.

The hosts lost to Germany over the weekend, making it three defeats on the bounce after a previous run of ten games unbeaten. Spain haven't enjoyed the most fruitful international break this time round but haven't lost in the two games they've played thus far.

Second-placed Germany this week play Switzerland, who are bottom of the group with a point, meaning a win for Spain will likely be vital in keeping them top.

Here's 90min's preview of the clash...

Where to Watch

When Is Kick Off? Tuesday 13 October
What Time Is Kick Off? 19:45 (BST)
Where Is it Played? NSC Olimpiyskiy
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports Football - Red Button (UK)
Referee? Pawel Gil

Team News

Andriy Shevchenko's Ukraine side are struggling due to a coronavirus outbreak in the squad, leaving them light on numbers and unable to field a full strength side.

Taras Stepanenko was unable to travel due to a positive test, while Shakhtar Donetsk trio Mykola Matviyenko, Andriy Pyatov and Junior Moraes have all had to isolate and subsequently withdraw from the squad. They're also without Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko through injury, but West Ham's Andriy Yarmolenko is available.

Two goalkeepers have also tested positive, meaning Shevchenko's assistant Oleksandr Shovkovskiy has come out of retirement at 45 years old to provide backup. Who said international football isn't entertaining?

La Roja have been dealt a much kinder hand and are in a much better position squad-wise. Mikel Oyarzabal came in and scored the winner against Switzerland at the weekend, but Luis Enrique is expected to alter his side once more against Ukraine.

Sergi Roberto and Sergio Reguilon started on the bench last time out and could start. Barcelona teenager Ansu Fati has impressed on his senior call-up, managing a goal and an assist in three Nations League appearances, and could feature once more.

Gerard Moreno and new Leeds signing Diego Llorente both miss out through injury, however.

Predicted Lineups

Ukraine: Bushchan; Karavayev, Zabarnyi, Mykolenko, Sobol; Sydorchuk; Yarmolenko, Malinovskiy, Shaparenko, Tsygankov; Yaremchuk.

Spain: De Gea; Navas, Ramos, Torres, Reguilon; Roberto, Rodri; Torres, Olmo, Fati; Oyarzabal.

Recent Form

La Roja were successful with a 1-0 victory over the weekend and played out a 0-0 draw against Portugal in a friendly last week, leaving them in good stead for their trip to Kiev.

A stretched Ukraine squad have endured a difficult break, however. They were thrashed 7-1 by 2018 World Cup winners France last week, before they lost again this weekend to Germany in competitive action. The loss to Germany has dented their chances of finishing in the top two of Group A4 and defeat to Spain would close that window further.

Both Spain and Ukraine will be looking for an upset in the Germany vs Switzerland fixture; a loss for the Germans would extend Spain's lead at the top should they win, and give Ukraine some hope in snatching second place.

Here's how each side has fared in their last five games.

Ukraine

Ukraine 1-2 Germany (10/10/20)
France 7-1 Ukraine (7/10/20)
Spain 4-0 Ukraine (6/9/20)
Ukraine 2-1 Switzerland (3/9/20)
Serbia 2-2 Ukraine (17/11/19)

Spain

Spain 1-0 Switzerland (10/10/20)
Portugal 0-0 Spain (7/10/20)
Spain 4-0 Ukraine (6/9/20)
Germany 1-1 Spain (3/9/20)
Spain 5-0 Romania (18/11/19)

Prediction

While Spain are by no means as strong a squad as they were some years ago, it's a side on the rebuild and, importantly, on the up again.

Younger players such as Fati and Reguilon are coming through and providing a new lease of life, while older heads such as Sergio Ramos and Sergio Busquets still bring experience and leadership. Ukraine have been hurt significantly by the COVID outbreak during the current international break and it's going to get worse before it gets better, unfortunately.

There's very little a stretched squad can do against La Roja here. Spain still have work to do to make it a convincing win, but they'll come away with three points no less.

Prediction: Ukraine 0-2 Spain