- Croatia U19 are the slight favourites at 32/25 with Ukraine U19 available at 229/100 and the draw at 239/100.
- Croatia U19 have a solid home record with five wins and two defeats in all competitions, conceding just 0.86 goals per game at home.
- Ukraine U19 have lost two of their last five away matches, averaging 1.80 goals per away game and conceding just 1.00 per away trip.
Croatia U19’s patient possession can produce results
Croatia U19 head into this encounter as slight favourites to begin their UEFA EURO U19 Group B 2026 campaign with a win over Ukraine U19 on Monday. Siniša Oreščanin's men are a well-disciplined team, with plenty of patience in their approach as they look to carve through sides through central midfield, usually sitting players behind the ball before looking to control the game from a compact spine.
That is exactly what we saw in Croatia U19's last two games, the first of which was a 1-1 draw away to France U19 in the UEFA U19 Championship Qualification - Elite Round, before a more recent 0-2 home loss to England U19 in the UEFA U19 Championship Qualification League A.
Croatia U19 are actually 6-1-3 in their last ten matches across all competitions, a decent run of results but one that is not perfect. That 1-1 draw with France U19 was a positive result but a 0-2 home defeat to England U19 was less impressive in the previous round. Their form in the last five games brings in a mixed but useful 3-1-1 record.
Ukraine U19 can be dangerous on the break
Ukraine U19 are no walkovers and they could make this a real battle with their more vertical style, looking to get into space on the transition and playing much faster than their opponents. Ukraine U19 have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five, they've travelled well in all competitions with a 1-1-1 run in their last three away games.
Ukraine U19 will likely look to make this a battle of transition against Croatia U19's control game, and that makes this a bit of a chess match in midfield. The odds and the form favour the home side, but this isn't a mismatch and the goals markets look the best avenue for profit.
Expect goals with Ukraine U19 in transition
Over 2.5 at 79/100 and BTTS: Yes at 61/100 are both solid prices to back, which is unusual given that Croatia U19 have conceded just 0.86 goals per-game on average at home. But with Ukraine U19 playing a more direct and fast-paced game, there could be more chances in this clash than the favourites' price suggests.
Croatia U19 may just have the quality to find a way through to win this clash and a 2-1 type result fits the price nicely, although this is likely to be a back-and-forth encounter with Ukraine U19 always a threat when they win the ball back on the counter.
