Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)
Michael O'Neill's side top Nations League Group C3
Teams drew 0-0 when they played in October
Northern Ireland aiming for fourth home win in a row
HT: Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Jim Magilton
Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio Ulster
Belarus are very disciplined and well drilled at the back. They're very physical and Northern Ireland haven't turned them enough.
HT: Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Keith Gillespie
Former Northern Ireland winger on BBC Radio Ulster
It's been really poor considering how well Northern Ireland played last month. Sometimes you get that, you're not going to get two unbelievable performances in a row but we definitely have to up the intensity.
HT: Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster
We have to get Ali McCann on the ball and certainly Shea Charles and pick out better passes. I think we need to play a little bit quicker.
Image source, Pacemaker PressShea Charles and Evgeni Yablonski battling for the ball
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Northern Ireland built up a head of steam midway through the opening 45 minutes but it's been relatively comfortable for the Belarus defence.
Dion Charles went closest for the hosts when his shot was tipped over by Fedor Lapoukhov while Conor Bradley has carried a threat.
Belarus have produced next to nothing in the final third although they are a well organised outfit and Northern Ireland will have to be sharper in attack to break the deadlock.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Conor Bradley goes on a mazy run and beats three Belarus players but he's halted by the final defender just a few yards out and the danger is cleared.
Image source, Pacemaker PressConor Bradley pushing Northern Ireland forward
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster
In the last 15 minutes everything has been played in front of the back five for Belarus and we haven't been able to get around them at all.
They're comfortable at the minute at the back.
Image source, Pacemaker PressBrodie Spencer battling for the ball
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
A deep corner finds Cairon Brown at the backpost and and he heads it back across goal but it falls to a Belarus player and his clearance hits Trai Hume's arm with the visitors winning a free-kick.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Brodie Spencer charges down the left and his cross crashes against the side-netting.
The game has become disjointed once again with Belarus frustrating Michael O'Neill's men.
Image source, Pacemaker PressLapukhov diving to guarantee Spencer's strike doesn't give Northern Ireland the lead
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Isaac Price tries his luck from 20 yards but sends his shot over the Belarus bar.
This is much better from Northern Ireland as they take a grip on the game.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park
Michael O'Neill said before the game that patience would be important for Northern Ireland, and so it has proved against a side that has only conceded one goal so far in the group.
They are sitting deep and allowing NI to dominate the ball, with clear cut chances at a premium so far for the hosts bar Dion Charles' close range effort, but they must not get frustrated and must keep probing to find a way through.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster
Conor Bradley could have had a shot very easily. He has done a great dummy, he has stepped over and lost the defender completely and got himself free.
That was a great chance.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Northern Ireland are now pushing for an opener and they nearly get it when Conor Bradley makes a trademark break down the right and crosses the ball ion front of goal.
All it needs is a touch from Dion Charles but he fails to connect at the front-post and it runs through with an off-balance Brodie Spencer shooting into the side-nettinfg
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Shea Charles looks like he's going to send his 30-yard free-kick into the box but instead he takes a pot at goal and it's a fierce strike which whistles just wide.
Image source, Pacemaker PressShea Charles' reaction after his effort went narrowly wide
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Northern Ireland are chasing a home hat-trick over Belarus, having beaten them on their two previous visits to Belfast in 2016 and 2019.
The hosts have edged proceedings as we reach the midway point in the first half but the Dion Charles opportunity remains the only chance of note.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster
The keeper has made a great reflex save there. It came at him very quickly but he managed to get an arm up and get it out for a corner.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
The first chance falls to Northern Ireland and it's a good one - a misplaced pass allows Shea Charles to run into the box and he finds Dion Charles, whose first-time strike is tipped over by Fedor Lapoukhov.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster
I like Ali McCann and Shea Charles in the middle of the park. I think it was those two people in particular who drove the team forward against Bulgaria.
Image source, Pacemaker PressAli McCann heading the ball during the Belarus game
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
Northern Ireland have a free-kick in a dangerous position but the delivery from Shea Charles only finds a Belarus head and the ball is cleared.
We're still waiting for the first chance of the game.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
It's been a a bit frantic in the opening few minutes and this one has yet to settle.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Belarus
John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster
I think it's very important Northern Ireland start in a quick pace and get an early goal.
Ballard marked his return from injury with the opener
Northern Ireland took a huge step towards promotion to League B of the Nations League with a routine 2-0 win against Belarus at Windsor Park.
Daniel Ballard and Dion Charles were on target for the hosts as they made it three wins from three home games in Group C3, inflicting Belarus' first defeat in the group in the process.
Michael O'Neill's side will now complete their campaign with an away game against Luxembourg on Monday.
A draw in that fixture will be enough for NI to top the group and seal promotion.
Charles went close with a free-kick in a first half of few chances for NI
Northern Ireland came into the game off the back of the impressive 5-0 triumph against Bulgaria last month, but O'Neill had said that patience would be key against a Belarus side that had only conceded one goal in the group.
That proved to be the case as it was a scrappy start to the game from NI against a team that were content to sit deep.
The game burst into life on 14 minutes however, as Northern Ireland fashioned their first and best opportunity of the half.
Shea Charles latched onto a misplaced pass from Kirill Pechenin and found Dion Charles, whose first-time instinctive effort from close range was tipped over the crossbar by Fedor Lapoukhov.
Pechenin then flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal for the in-rushing Evgeni Shikavka, who was unable to get a touch.
The earlier NI chance had lifted the sold-out crowd as well as the players and they went close again through Shea Charles and Bradley.
Charles, who was captain on the night, smashed a free-kick from 30 yards out into the side netting.
Bradley then raced into the area with intent and delivered an inviting ball, but no one in green was on hand to divert the ball goalward.
After that bright spell, NI started to slow down with stray passes and a lack of quality in the final third making it a comfortable end to the half for Belarus.
Isaac Price curled an effort from range off target as the first half of frustration drew to a close.
Dion Charles coolly converted the spot kick to double NI's lead
Northern Ireland came out with renewed vigour in the second half, showing the intensity that O'Neill had demanded pre-match.
Straight from kick-off they spurned a good opportunity as Brodie Spencer charged down the left-hand side and stood the ball up for Dion Charles but, unmarked, he headed wide.
They almost gifted Belarus a goal moments later as Shea Charles slipped when attempting to clear a free-kick delivery into the box.
The ball fell to Aleksandr Martynovich, but he snatched at the chance and blazed over the crossbar.
The hosts eventually broke the deadlock on 50 minutes as the returning Ballard stooped to meet Shea Charles' corner at the back post to head past Lapoukhov.
They were then awarded a penalty on 63 minutes as Pechenin was penalised for a handball from Shea Charles' free-kick.
Dion Charles stepped up and confidently tucked home to double their advantage.
Northern Ireland continued to push in search of a third goal against a tiring Belarus side.
Price picked the ball up with time and space and unleashed a fierce shot which whistled just wide before substitute Jamie Reid volleyed over the crossbar.
Fellow substitute George Saville went close in injury time, weaving past his marker before seeing his powerful strike pushed away by Lapoukhov.
They were forced to settle for just two goals, but they did pick up another clean sheet, their sixth in nine fixtures this year, as they made it four wins from their last four home games.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 13 |
| |
| 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 14 | -6 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 13 |
| |
| 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 10 |
| |
| 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | Israel | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | -9 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 5 |
| |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 13 |
| |
| 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 5 |
| |
| 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 2 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| |
| 3 | Estonia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 3 |
|
| 4 | Azerbaijan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 12 |
| |
| 2 | Kosovo | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
|
| 3 | Cyprus | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 6 |
|
| 4 | Lithuania | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 8 |
|
| 3 | Belarus | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 6 |
|
| 4 | Luxembourg | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 2 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 13 |
| |
| 2 | Faroe Islands | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
|
| 3 | Armenia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 4 |
|
| 4 | Latvia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 4 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gibraltar | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
|
| 2 | San Marino | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
|
| 3 | Liechtenstein | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moldova | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
|
| 2 | Malta | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
|
| 3 | Andorra | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 6 |
| |
| 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| |
| 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 12 |
| |
| 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 6 |
| |
| 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| |
| 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 7 |
| |
| 4 | Kazakhstan | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 10 | -10 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | Montenegro | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
|
Manager: Michael O'Neill
Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager: Carlos Alós
Formation: 5 - 3 - 2
Manager: Michael O'Neill
Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager: Carlos Alós
Formation: 5 - 3 - 2
UEFA Nations League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Northern Ireland are unbeaten in their four previous meetings with Belarus (W3 D1), keeping a clean sheet in three of those games.
Belarus have lost both of their previous two away games in Northern Ireland, losing 3-0 in a May 2016 friendly and 2-1 in a March 2019 European Championship qualifier.
Northern Ireland won 5-0 last time out against Bulgaria, having scored only four goals across their six competitive fixtures prior – it was their biggest win since September 1991 (5-0 v Faroe Islands).
After winning seven of their first 11 games in the UEFA Nations League (D3 L1), Belarus have since won just one of their 11 matches in the competition (D6 L4).
After failing to win any of their first 14 games in the UEFA Nations League (D4 L10), Northern Ireland have since won three of six matches in the competition (D1 L2).
Belarus are unbeaten in their last four away gams across all competitions (W2 D2), never before going five in a row on the road without defeat.
Isaac Price (21y 19d) became Northern Ireland’s youngest ever hat-trick scorer last month against Bulgaria and could be the first player to score in back-to-back appearances for the nation since Josh Magennis in June 2019.
Teenager Pierce Charles has kept a clean sheet in his two appearances for Northern Ireland and could be the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in three straight games for the Green and White Army since Michael McGovern in September 2017.
