- 1 Hungary vs Ukraine: two meetings in 34 years, two wins for Hungary
- 2 Hungary: the Puskas Arena and a settled unit built around Szoboszlai
- 3 Ukraine: three withdrawals and no natural answer at right-back
- 4 Football Prediction Hungary vs Ukraine
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Hungary vs Ukraine: two meetings in 34 years, two wins for Hungary 
Hungary and Ukraine have met only twice in their history, and both times came in 1992. Hungary won both, 3-1 and then 2-1.
The first of those games carried real weight: played on 29 April 1992 in Uzhhorod, it was Ukraine’s first ever international.
34 years later, the two nations meet again on Friday 25 September at 20:45 Paris time, at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. It is the opening match in League B, Group 2.
Georgia and Northern Ireland complete the section. None of the four sides arrive as clear favourites.
For Ukraine, this trip marks a key moment. Andrea Maldera takes charge of his first official match as head coach after stepping in during the spring.
The brief was laid out publicly by Andriy Shevchenko, president of the Ukrainian Football Association, back in May: qualify for Euro 2028 via the Nations League.
That matters, because it gives this competition more weight than some teams are willing to admit. A poor start in Budapest would make that plan a lot harder straight away.
For Hungary, Marco Rossi has a settled squad and Dominik Szoboszlai as the hub. Two wins from their last five outings, six goals scored and five conceded.
The bookmakers have made their call without hesitation: Hungary are 2.25, the draw is 3.25 and a Ukraine win is 3.25 too.
This season’s format adds another layer. It is the final edition played under the four-tier system, before UEFA switches to three leagues of 18 teams.
The third-placed teams in League B no longer drop straight down, while the bottom sides go into a play-off. Promotion remains open to both the group winners and runners-up.
Hungary: the Puskas Arena and a settled unit built around Szoboszlai 
Two wins in five matches, a 40% strike rate over the latest run. Not exactly thrilling, but it does point to a side with some stability.
The numbers are more telling: six goals scored, five conceded. The balance is fine, but only just, and it leaves Hungary in the bracket of teams that tend to grind out results.
Rossi is still there, and that remains Hungary’s biggest edge. The continuity stands in sharp contrast to Ukraine’s situation.
Szoboszlai is still the player everything revolves around. His ability to break lines from midfield gives Hungary a weapon that very few League B opponents can really shut down.
The Puskas Arena also shifts the needle. Budapest has become one of the toughest places in central Europe for visiting teams.
The head-to-head record backs the hosts too, even if it dates back a long way. Two games, two Hungary wins, and no old scar to hide from against this neighbour.
The bookmakers’ view confirms it. At 2.25, Hungary are clearly ahead of a Ukraine side that probably has a little more individual quality.
The key difference is preparation: Rossi knows his squad inside out, while his opposite number is still getting to know his in proper competitive conditions.
Hungary are not usually the team carrying the favourite tag. Against a more gifted Ukraine on paper, their status comes from consistency rather than star power.
Try it for $0.99.
Ukraine: three withdrawals and no natural answer at right-back 
Ukraine arrived in Budapest on Sunday 20 September to get ready for this opener. The staff wanted time, and they got it.
Andrea Maldera’s squad looks strong on paper. Illia Zabarnyi at PSG, Anatoliy Trubin and Heorhii Sudakov at Benfica, Viktor Tsyhankov at Ajax: the quality is there.
But three players pulled out before the camp had even properly begun. Bologna striker Artem Dovbyk and Oleksandr Andriievskyi both withdrew injured, and debutant Artem Stepanov later followed them.
Ruslan Malinovskyi is also missing, which strips Ukraine’s midfield of its main forward passer. Maldera has filled the gap by calling up Oleksandr Pikhalionok and Ihor Krasnopir from the reserve list.
The biggest imbalance is at full-back. There is only one specialist right-back in the squad, Illia Krupskyi, for three left-backs.
Yehor Yarmoliuk was left out, with Maldera explaining in his press conference that a persistent leg issue meant he was not at 100%. The lack of a proper holding midfielder is another weak spot.
Up front, Danylo Sikan looks the sharpest option. The striker has six goals in 14 matches for Anderlecht this season, five of them in Europa League qualifying.
Andriy Yarmolenko, 36, brings experience and a personal target: his 47 international goals leave him one behind Andriy Shevchenko’s record.
The structural issue is the real one, though. A first official match for the coach, three attacking withdrawals and only one natural right-back: that’s a lot of unknowns for a trip to Budapest.
Even so, the pool has widened. Maldera has called on players from Polissya, Kharkiv and LNZ, where Ukraine once leaned almost entirely on Dynamo and Shakhtar.
Probable Hungary line-up: Not announced at time of publication.
Probable Ukraine line-up: Not announced at time of publication.
Football Prediction Hungary vs Ukraine
Our prediction: Hungary to win
The strongest argument is continuity on the Hungary side. Rossi has managed this team for years, while Maldera is taking charge of his first official match and still hasn’t been able to field the squad he wanted.
Ukraine’s absences have piled up at the worst possible time. Dovbyk, Andriievskyi, Stepanov and Malinovskyi are all out of this trip, and the staff have only one natural right-back to deal with Hungary’s wide threat.
The record and the venue finish the picture. Two meetings, two Hungary wins, and a Puskas Arena that should give Rossi’s men the perfect stage to get their campaign rolling.
The call is clear: Hungary win in Budapest.
One last problem for Ukraine’s build-up: there is no natural holding midfielder in the group. Brazhko or Nazaryna will be asked to play a role that is not really theirs against Szoboszlai.
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
_________
First, a word on our free predictions
- What we publish on mathodds is analysis, nothing more. We share an opinion, a read on the moment, but never a guarantee. Sport is still sport: unpredictable. A red card, an injury, a goal out of nowhere… and the script changes completely.
- Let’s be clear: there is no risk-free bet. Even when something looks “obvious”, it never really is. And yes, that means you can lose. In fact, at some point, you will.
- The best approach is to stay sensible. Bet small, set a budget and stick to it. Do not touch money you need to live on. And above all: do not chase losses, because it rarely ends well.
- A bet should stay a bit of fun, not a job or a source of income. If you feel it is taking up too much space in your life, making you angry or putting you under pressure, take a break. And if you need to, speak to a specialist support service. That is what it is there for.
- In the end, responsibility is yours. Reading our content means accepting that risk exists and will never disappear, even with the best analysis in the world.
- Important reminder: betting is banned for minors and must follow the law in your country. Gambling can spiral quickly (financial losses, family tension, addiction). Need Help? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In the UK? Visit https://www.gambleaware.org/https://www.gambleaware.org/.
No commitment from us
Our predictions are not a contract. They have no legal force. In plain English: you cannot use them to demand anything if a bet loses.
Information changes
A prediction is always based on what we know at the time of writing. But in the meantime, a team sheet changes, a player gets injured, the weather turns… and the analysis can be out of date fast. We cannot be held responsible for that.
Your responsibility
Before placing a bet, check that betting is legal where you live. If it is not, that is your responsibility, not ours.
Responsible gambling first
We cannot say this enough: gamble in moderation. If you struggle to stay in control, do not wait to get help. We cannot be responsible for compulsive or excessive use of the information published on the site.
Legal age
mathodds content is for adults only. By using this site, you confirm that you are old enough by law to bet.
About the images…
The Hungary and Ukraine images and logos on mathodds, including those linked to the Nations League, are used only to illustrate our articles. They do not mean we have any official link with a federation or sports organisation, and we do not claim any rights over them.
Those rights belong to the original creators. If, despite our care, any image causes an issue, contact us and it will be removed without delay.
Our only aim with these images is to make the reading experience better. Nothing more. No commercial gain, no taking credit for someone else’s work.
Leave a Reply