Hungary vs Georgia: A B2 Battle Where Attack Finally Has to Speak

Neither Hungary nor Georgia has found the net in the opening two rounds of this Nations League campaign, yet neither side has been completely out of the contest either. Both have collected one point, both have conceded once, and both now enter the meeting at the Puskás Aréna knowing that another dropped result would leave them four points behind the current Group B2 leaders, Ukraine and Northern Ireland. UEFA lists the match for Friday, October 2, with an 18:45 UTC kick-off in Budapest.
Hungary began with a narrow 1-0 home defeat against Ukraine before earning a goalless draw in Belfast, while Georgia lost 1-0 to Northern Ireland and then drew 0-0 with Ukraine. The numbers make this look like a defensive group, but the lack of goals also puts greater emphasis on which side can change the attacking pattern without losing its defensive balance.
For Marco Rossi, that means finding more speed and purpose once Hungary crosses the halfway line. He specifically called for quicker and more direct possession ahead of this match, acknowledging that his team needs greater quality in the attacking third.
Georgia arrive under interim head coach Ramaz Svanadze following the departure of Willy Sagnol after the Northern Ireland defeat, giving the visitors another storyline beyond the standings. Reuters reported that Svanadze has taken over from Sagnol with a contract running through 2028.
The tactical contrast should be especially interesting because Rossi noted that Georgia continue to use a three-centre-back structure, although their shape has shifted from 3-4-2-1 to 3-5-2 under the new coach.
Variation rule: this preview deliberately treats the lack of goals as the central storyline, with the tactical sections built around how both teams can create chances rather than opening with injuries, venue details or individual stars.

Hungary’s most important adjustment is likely to come in possession. Rossi has already identified the problem publicly: his team needs faster circulation and more direct play against Georgia. That is particularly relevant after Hungary failed to score in either of their first two matches.
Dominik Szoboszlai remains the obvious creative reference, but the confirmed 4-2-3-1 gives him support from Alex Tóth, Milán Tóth and Zsolt Nagy around Dániel Lukács. András Schäfer provides the midfield base alongside Alex Tóth.
Georgia’s 3-4-1-2 gives them a different route into the final third. Giorgi Chakvetadze operates behind Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze, with Otar Kakabadze and Giorgi Tsitaishvili providing width from the wing-back positions.
That structure can leave Hungary facing three central defenders while also needing to monitor the movement of Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze. Rossi specifically highlighted Kvaratskhelia’s freedom to move across the attacking zones as something Hungary must pay attention to.
Georgia, meanwhile, will have to decide how aggressively its wing-backs advance because losing the ball high could leave space for Hungary’s wide players and Szoboszlai to attack.
The match could therefore turn on the transition immediately after possession changes, particularly if Hungary can force Georgia’s back three to defend facing its own goal rather than allowing the visitors to establish their preferred compact shape.

The injury situation has also shaped Hungary’s options throughout this international period. MLSZ confirmed before the Nations League campaign that Barnabás Varga, Roland Sallai and Callum Styles were unavailable, with Donát Bárány, Zsolt Nagy and Milán Tóth brought into the squad as replacements.
Hungary then suffered another setback during the 0-0 draw in Belfast when right-back Bendegúz Bolla injured his ankle and was replaced by Attila Osváth in the first half. MLSZ subsequently reported Osváth as the player who stepped into that position, and he starts against Georgia.
Georgia’s situation is considerably cleaner going into the match. Georgian outlet 1TV reported that Svanadze had a fully fit squad available for the Budapest fixture.
The visitors therefore arrive without a comparable injury list, while their managerial change gives the match a different tactical dimension. Svanadze has retained the three-man defensive foundation but has used a 3-5-2 structure, something Rossi explicitly identified before kick-off.
The confirmed teams also show that Georgia have selected Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal, with Lasha Dvali, Saba Goglichidze and Luka Lochoshvili forming the back three.
For Hungary, Willi Orbán and Márk Csinger anchor the centre of defence, while Milos Kerkez and Attila Osváth occupy the full-back positions in the confirmed starting XI.

The pre-match comments from Budapest have been unusually direct about what Hungary must change. Rossi said the team needs to improve its phases of possession and play faster and more directly, while also praising Georgia as a strong side with several players competing in top European leagues.
Attila Osváth, speaking alongside Rossi, acknowledged that criticism of Hungary’s attacking output is understandable after two matches without a goal, but said the mood within the squad remains positive and that the players know what needs to improve.
Georgia’s pre-match messaging has focused on the opportunity created by the new coaching era. Svanadze described the Budapest meeting as one of the remaining opportunities for Georgia to challenge near the top of the group, while 1TV reported that the team completed its final training session at the Puskás Aréna on October 1.
The wider press picture therefore revolves around two connected questions: can Hungary finally turn its possession into goals, and can Georgia’s new tactical arrangement immediately produce more attacking threat without weakening the defensive organisation that has kept both opening matches close?
There is no need for either side to abandon its defensive principles, but the standings make another 0-0 particularly costly in terms of the race to close the gap on the two teams currently above them.
With both teams level on one point and both having scored zero goals so far, the decisive moments are likely to come from the quality of the final pass, the positioning of the wing-backs and the ability of the attacking players to exploit the small spaces that appear between midfield and defence.

⚠️ Verified Injury & Availability Report

Hungary

Hungary – Confirmed Injury Absences
Out / Ruled Out	Barnabás Varga	Injury; unavailable for the Nations League international window
Out / Ruled Out	Roland Sallai	Injury; unavailable for the Nations League international window
Out / Ruled Out	Callum Styles	Injury; unavailable for the Nations League international window
Out / Ruled Out	Bendegúz Bolla	Ankle injury sustained against Northern Ireland; replaced in the first half

MLSZ confirmed the pre-window absences of Varga, Sallai and Styles, while its report from Belfast recorded Bolla’s ankle injury and replacement by Attila Osváth. No official source reviewed for this match identifies a current long-term/IR or questionable Hungary player, so no such rows have been added.

Georgia

Georgia enter the match with a fully fit squad according to the Georgian pre-match report published on October 2. No officially listed long-term, ruled-out or questionable injury was identified, so no injury row has been invented.

🟢 Official Matchday Elevens & Key Personnel

The starting XIs have been confirmed for the October 2 meeting. Hungary use a 4-2-3-1, while Georgia line up in a 3-4-1-2. The selections below follow the confirmed matchday teams rather than earlier predictions.

Hungary – Confirmed 4-2-3-1

Hungary – Confirmed Starting XI
Goalkeeper	Balázs Tóth	Goalkeeper
Defender	Attila Osváth	Right-back
Defender	Willi Orbán	Centre-back
Defender	Márk Csinger	Centre-back
Defender	Milos Kerkez	Left-back
Midfielder	András Schäfer	Central midfield
Midfielder	Alex Tóth	Central midfield
Midfielder	Milán Tóth	Attacking midfield
Midfielder	Dominik Szoboszlai	Attacking midfield
Midfielder	Zsolt Nagy	Wide attacking role
Forward	Dániel Lukács	Centre-forward

Georgia – Confirmed 3-4-1-2

Georgia – Confirmed Starting XI
Goalkeeper	Giorgi Mamardashvili	Goalkeeper
Defender	Lasha Dvali	Centre-back
Defender	Saba Goglichidze	Centre-back
Defender	Luka Lochoshvili	Centre-back
Midfielder	Otar Kiteishvili	Central midfield
Midfielder	Irakli Yegoian	Central midfield
Midfielder	Giorgi Tsitaishvili	Wing-back
Midfielder	Otar Kakabadze	Wing-back
Attacking midfielder	Giorgi Chakvetadze	Advanced midfield
Forward	Khvicha Kvaratskhelia	Forward
Forward	Georges Mikautadze	Forward

• Hungary: Marco Rossi remains in charge, with Dominik Szoboszlai operating behind Dániel Lukács in the confirmed 4-2-3-1.
• Georgia: Ramaz Svanadze leads the side following the departure of Willy Sagnol, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze forming the confirmed attacking pair.
• Main tactical duel: Hungary’s four-man defensive structure faces Georgia’s 3-4-1-2, creating a potential battle around the flanks and the space behind Hungary’s midfield line.
• Group situation: Hungary and Georgia both began the day on one point, while Ukraine and Northern Ireland were level at the top on four points.

🔵 What Could Decide the Contest?

The most important battle may take place before either side reaches the penalty area. Hungary need to move the ball quickly enough to prevent Georgia’s three-man defensive structure from settling, while Georgia must decide how high its wing-backs can advance without exposing the channels behind them.
Szoboszlai’s positioning could become particularly important because he is capable of receiving between Georgia’s midfield and defence, but the visitors also have players who can punish Hungary if possession is lost in dangerous areas.
Kvaratskhelia’s freedom of movement gives Georgia an attacking outlet that can change the direction of an attack quickly, while Mikautadze provides a second central target around the penalty area. Rossi has already highlighted the need to account for that flexibility.
Hungary’s response will depend partly on whether Kerkez and Osváth can contribute forward without leaving the central defenders exposed to transitions.
After two rounds without scoring, the hosts have a clear attacking issue to solve, while Georgia’s own failure to score means the visitors also have something to prove in the final third.
The match therefore arrives with neither side needing a dramatic tactical overhaul; the key may simply be which team executes its attacking movements with greater speed, precision and patience.

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