Germany vs Ukraine Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News
By George Cannon
Germany host Ukraine on Saturday evening in the penultimate match of their Nations League Group A4 fixtures.
The encounter could prove pivotal in the final standings, with the two sides level on six points after four games with only goal difference separating them.
Andriy Shevchenko's side will be hoping to cause an upset, just as they did against Spain last month, but that shock 1-0 victory is their only win in their last five outings.
Where to Watch on TV
When Is Kick Off? Saturday 14 November
What Time Is Kick Off? 19:45 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? RB Arena
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports Football (UK), fuboTV (US)
Referee? Ovidiu Hategan
Team News
Joachim Low is without the services of Joshua Kimmich. The highly influential Bayern Munich midfielder has been ruled out until January after damaging his meniscus in Der Klassiker last time out. Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus have also been left at home, having only recently returned from the treatment table.
The 2014 World Cup winners are likely to recall the likes of Manuel Neuer, Matthias Ginter, Leon Goretzka, Toni Kroos, Serge Gnabry and Timo Werner to the starting lineup after they played no part in the friendly win over the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Midfielder Serhiy Sydorchuk is suspended for Ukraine in what is otherwise a full-strength squad. Shevchenko made the bold decision to leave former Schalke winger Yevhen Konoplyanka out of his latest selection due to poor form, but West Ham forward Andriy Yarmolenko is likely to play and be pivotal to his country's slim hopes.
Predicted Lineups
Germany: Neuer; Ginter, Süle, Rüdiger; Klostermann, Gündogan, Kroos, Gosens; Gnabry, Sane; Werner.
Ukraine: Pyatov; Konoplya, Kryvtsov, Matviyenko, Sobol; Malinovskyi, Stepanenko, Zinchenko; Yarmolenko, Moraes, Yaremchuk.
Recent Form
The Mannschaft are on an unbeaten run dating back to August last year, but the 11 game streak has seen them draw five of those matches as Low attempts to transition his side smoothly.
They are unbeaten so far in Group A4, including the 2-1 win over Wednesday's opponents, but with that being their solitary victory to date there's pressure on the Germans to turn results and performances around quickly.
Although Shevchenko's side have only won once in their last five fixtures, they were unbeaten in their previous 11, including wins over Portugal and Switzerland. On their day, they're capable of upsetting anyone, as Spain found out in October.
Here's how the two sides have fared in their last five fixtures.
Germany
Germany 1-0 Czech Republic (11/11)
Germany 3-3 Switzerland (13/10)
Ukraine 1-2 Germany (10/10)
Germany 3-3 Turkey (7/10)
Switzerland 1-1 Germany (6/9)
Ukraine
Poland 2-0 Ukraine (11/11)
Ukraine 1-0 Spain (13/10)
Ukraine 1-2 Germany (10/10)
France 7-1 Ukraine (7/10)
Spain 4-0 Ukraine (6/9)
Prediction
Neither side are in great form coming into this one and both will be looking for a good result to keep in touch with table toppers Spain.
Germany should have too much for Ukraine though, especially after bringing their big guns back in, and Low needs a convincing win to silence his doubters.
Prediction: Germany 2-0 Ukraine