Georgia (rank no. 72) will host UEFA Nations League B returnees Northern Ireland (70) on matchday one with only the small Caribbean island of Jamaica separating them in the FIFA world rankings.
Match News and Current Form
After losing five of their six FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2025 (W1), Georgia are unbeaten this year (W2, D2) and could go five games undefeated under manager Willy Sagnol for only the second time since he took the job in February 2021. The Frenchman has selected an experienced group for this block of games with only one uncapped player in the squad as the Crusaders look to continue their impressive Nations League record which has seen them rise from a League D debut in 2018/19 to retaining their League B status in 2024/25. Georgia did this despite failing to win any of their last four group games in the competition (D1, L3) and had won only one of their previous six home fixtures (D3, L2) before a June victory over Bahrain in Tbilisi.
With six defeats from their last eight away games (W1, D1) and only one overseas victory since July 2024 (D3, L8), Northern Ireland return to League B at the Boris Paitchadze Dinamo Arena following two Nations League campaigns in League C. Michael O’Neill’s side won promotion after losing just one of six matches (W3, D2) to top their group in 2024/25, a significant improvement from their solitary win across all three previous Nations League seasons (D4, L11). Following their end of season friendlies in June against Guinea (W 1-0) and France (L 3-1), O’Neill has brought eight players back into the squad as the Green and White Army attempt to secure their first victory at League B level (D2, L8).
Head-to-Head History
This will be the second H2H between the sides with Northern Ireland winning a 2008 friendly 4-1 in Belfast.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Georgia failed to score before half-time in their last five Nations League group games.
Georgia kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven wins.
Northern Ireland have not scored 2+ goals in any of their last seven fixtures.
Northern Ireland failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last ten games on opposition soil.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s last nine international goal contributions (G8, A1) have all come in home fixtures, making him a likely candidate to score here. Isaac Price was Northern Ireland’s leading scorer in their last Nations League campaign (G4), with three of those goals coming before half-time.
Irakli Azarovi is out injured for Georgia as are Ali McCann, Conor Bradley and Brad Lyons for Northern Ireland.
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Betting Analysis
Backing a fourth successive Georgia fixture with exactly two match goals could be a smart approach.
Author: Tom Penn