Georgia welcome Spain to the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena this Friday in the fifth round of the UEFA Euro Qualifiers. Both sides are trailing top of the table Scotland are in desperate need of a win to get their campaign fully into gear.
Georgia sit second in Group A, in the final qualification spot. With one win, one draw and one loss in three games, Georgia have just four points, eight points behind Scotland and with a far inferior goal difference.
The first game of the Qualifiers for Georgia was a home tie against Norway. Alexander Sorloth gave Norway the early lead with a goal in the first 15 minutes. Though it took time, Georgia managed to grab a point when Georges Mikautadze scored the equaliser as the game finished 1 - 1. The first win for Georgia came against Cyprus where Mikautadze and Zuriko Davitashvii scored in a 2 - 1 win, despite Ioannis Pittas’ penalty. The most recent outing in the Qualifiers came against Scotland. Callum McGregor and Scott McTominay both scored as Scotland bagged a 2 - 0 win and all three points.
Georgia also played an international friendly in the last break. Davit Volkovi, Saba Lobzhanidze, Giorgi Beridze and Budu Zivzivadze all scored with Giorgi Chakvetadze bagging a brace in the 6 - 1 thrashing of Mongolia.
Spain are all the way down in fourth in Group A, having played only two games so far. In these two games La Roja have one win and one loss, leaving them on just three points, nine points adrift from Scotland.
La Roja began their qualifying campaign at home to Norway. Dani Olmo scored early in the first half followed by a double in two minutes from Joselu to give Spain the 3 - 0 win. The only other qualifying match Spain has played was away to Scotland. Despite having an impressive 85% of the possession, McTominay scored once in both halves for Scotland giving them the 2 - 0 win against the odds.
In the midst of the Qualifiers, Spain played in the latter stages of the UEFA Nations League. La Roja faced Italy in the Semi-final where they took an early lead through Yeremy Pino scoring in the third minute. Ciro Immobile converted a penalty for Italy in the 11th minute but Joselu popped up with an 88th minute winner for Spain. Next was Croatia in the Final. After a goalless Final, Spain prevailed after Bruno Petkovic and Lovro Majer both missed giving Spain the 5 - 4 win and the Nations League trophy.
Georgia and Spain have met just five times in their histories, with the first meeting happening in 2012. Spain have the upperhand in the fixture with four wins, but Georgia have won once, a 1 - 0 win back in 2016.