- Standings: Ukraine U19 lead the way in UEFA EURO U19 Group B 2026 with 6 points from a possible 6 after two games, but Italy U19 are second on 4 points and the group winners are on the line.
- Form: Italy U19 are unbeaten in five (W3, D2), but they have drawn one from one away from home and are yet to score away from home, in which case Ukraine U19 represent a live betting opportunity.
- Scorers: Ukraine U19 have scored five goals across their last five matches, Vitaliy Hlyut has scored two of them and has been directly involved in a big chunk of his side's output over the last few months.
Ukraine have momentum in their favour in Group B
Italy U19 are the bookmakers' favorites at 2.07 for Sunday's final Group B fixture with Ukraine U19, but their hosts are the group leaders after two rounds of games and are running hot, so a draw or upset seems possible.
The Ukrainians have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five games across all competitions and they arrive for this encounter on the back of a two-game winning streak that saw them beat Croatia U19 (1-3) and Serbia U19 (1-2) in the UEFA EURO U19 Group B 2026.
Italy U19 followed up their 2-0 win at home to Serbia U19 with a 0-0 draw away to Croatia U19 in their opening Group B games to stay in the group with four points, but the stalemate in Croatia indicated a slight lack of sharpness in attack.
Hlyut can get in the way of Italy’s best-laid plans
Ukraine's approach
Ukraine U19 play a typical possession-based game where they look to dominate the field, dictate the tempo in the middle third and push forward through the wide areas and in behind with their most mobile forwards.
Italy's approach
Italy U19 are a 4-3-3 team that operate in a similar fashion to the senior team in many ways, but their style is more about keeping things compact and keeping the ball when they get it, while they are not as proactive in their pressing as to be a team that suffocates opponents.
Tactical matchup
That sets up a classic chess match where the hosts will look to control the ball and the Italians will look to be solid and strike on transition. However, the Italians are just slightly ahead on paper and the Ukrainians are the team on a hot streak, so the visitors will be looking for a tight, gritty battle on Sunday.
Semi-finalists will be the winners
The last meeting between these nations was in EURO U19 Group A 2024 when Ukraine U19 beat Italy U19 3-2 in a thriller, so the history of this pairing suggests a close game is on the cards with a few late twists and turns.
- But we're going to take the Under 2.5 goals at 1.88 as the better option here, given Italy U19 are yet to register an away goal in this tournament and they will be up against a possession-first Ukraine U19 team that have scored just five goals in their last five internationals.
- Vitaliy Hlyut is one of the Ukrainian U19's sharpest finishers in the squad and he has scored twice in their last five, so he looks a solid pick for an anytime goal on Sunday.
