Liam Duckstein
| Prefer us on Google — see Tips.gg in Top Stories & Discover | Add on Google |
With Vitaliy Mykolenko missing for the hosts and Hungary down to one fit senior striker option, the predicted line-ups for this UEFA Nations League meeting carry a genuine selection puzzle at both ends of the pitch. Ukraine host Hungary on Monday 5 October 2026, and the questions created by those absences shape much of what follows below. Everything here is a projection built from recent starts, not an announced team sheet.
Ukraine Predicted XI
Andrea Maldera’s side is projected in a 4-2-3-1, the shape the coach prefers, and the pattern of recent starts points to a settled side – 10 of the projected XI started their last match. The back four and double pivot all show two starts from the sample used, underlining the continuity in defence and midfield. Further forward, Andriy Yarmolenko’s inclusion is built on just a single start in the sample despite starting the most recent game, while Vladyslav Vanat is projected up front even though he did not feature in that last match, making the striker slot the one genuine doubt in an otherwise consistent XI.
Ukraine predicted XI: Dmytro Riznyk; Eduard Sarapiy, Valeriy Bondar, Ilya Zabarnyi, Mykola Matvienko; Volodymyr Brazhko, Viktor Tsygankov, Oleg Ocheretko, Heorhii Sudakov, Andriy Yarmolenko; Vladyslav Vanat
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 23 | Dmytro Riznyk | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 3 | Eduard Sarapiy | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 5 | Valeriy Bondar | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 13 | Ilya Zabarnyi | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 22 | Mykola Matvienko | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 6 | Volodymyr Brazhko | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 15 | Viktor Tsygankov | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 18 | Oleg Ocheretko | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Heorhii Sudakov | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 7 | Andriy Yarmolenko | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 11 | Vladyslav Vanat | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Hungary Predicted Lineup
Marco Rossi typically favours a 3-4-2-1, and that is the base shape used for this expected XI. The group is largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, and the goalkeeper plus back three have started all three matches used here. Áron Csongvai stands out as a selection worth watching, with two starts in the sample but no appearance in the most recent fixture, while Tamás Szűcs carries just one start and also missed the last match, leaving both wide midfield slots as the least certain picks in the side.
Hungary predicted XI: Balazs Toth; Willi Orbán, Milos Kerkez, Mark Csinger; Dominik Szoboszlai, András Schäfer, Áron Csongvai, Zsolt Nagy, Alex Tóth, Tamás Szűcs; Dániel Lukács
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Balazs Toth | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 6 | Willi Orbán | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 11 | Milos Kerkez | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 3 | Mark Csinger | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 10 | Dominik Szoboszlai | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 13 | András Schäfer | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 25 | Áron Csongvai | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 18 | Zsolt Nagy | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| M | 21 | Alex Tóth | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| M | 7 | Tamás Szűcs | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 16 | Dániel Lukács | 3/3 | 3/3 |
Team News: Who Is Out
Vitaliy Mykolenko is out injured, a loss that thins Ukraine’s defensive options on the left side of the back four. Among the back-up options, Taras Mykhavko is listed on the bench with a single start in this sample, much like several other alternates, so there is little obvious depth advantage over the incumbent if a change is needed there.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oleksandr Zinchenko | injured | Twisted knee | |
| Vitaliy Mykolenko | D | injured | Unknown Injury |
Barnabás Varga and Damir Redzic are out injured, removing both of Hungary’s withdrawn forward options and placing extra weight on Dániel Lukács leading the line. On the bench, Bendeguz Bolla has the most starts of the available alternates in this sample, making him the likeliest attacking change if Rossi needs to freshen things up.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnabás Varga | F | injured | Bruise |
| Damir Redzic | F | injured | Sprained ankle |
How These Line-ups Were Picked
Each predicted lineup here is drawn from the last three line-ups available for that side, with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones when deciding who is favoured to start. Any player confirmed injured or suspended has been removed from contention before the expected XI was built. This is a projection, not an official team news release, and it can change once the real line-up is confirmed closer to kickoff.
Read Also: Ukraine vs Hungary Prediction: 05.10.2026 UEFA Nations League
FAQ
What formation are Ukraine and Hungary expected to use?
Ukraine are projected in a 4-2-3-1 under Andrea Maldera, while Hungary are expected to line up in Marco Rossi’s preferred 3-4-2-1.
Who is predicted to start in goal for Ukraine vs Hungary?
Dmytro Riznyk is projected in goal for Ukraine, with Balazs Toth expected to start between the posts for Hungary.
Who is unavailable for Ukraine vs Hungary?
Ukraine are without Vitaliy Mykolenko through injury, while Hungary are missing forwards Barnabás Varga and Damir Redzic, both out injured.
When do Ukraine and Hungary kick off?
The UEFA Nations League fixture between Ukraine and Hungary kicks off on Monday 5 October 2026.