Brazil VS Belgium Match Prediction

Brazil have won three of their four previous matches against Belgium, but they have not met since a 2-0 Brazilian win at the 2002 World Cup – their only previous competitive game.

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Brazil vs Belgium Stats

 Belgium are unbeaten in 23 matches, a run stretching back to August 2016

 Brazil’s unbeaten run stretches back to August 2017 – 15 matches, 11 of which have been won

 Brazil have kept clean sheets in eight of their last nine matches.

 Belgium have won their last six matches, scoring 19 goals in the process

Belgium vs Brazil Betting Tips

Two of the form teams left at the 2018 World Cup meet each other in the quarter-finals, with both protecting long unbeaten runs.

Brazil have not lost since a friendly in August 2017, while to find Belgium’s last defeat you have to go back a further 12 months to August 2016.

Both have plenty of firepower – Neymar in particular for Brazil and Romelu Lukaku for Belgium – and quality all over the pitch.

Brazil have the defensive edge, thanks to ten clean sheets in their last 12 games, but Belgium have scored 19 goals in six games to prove they have the attacking talent to try and beat Alisson.

Casemiro’s absence from Brazil’s line-up will be offset by Fernandinho coming in – a player instrumental in Manchester City’s title win. He will face his club team-mate Kevin de Bruyne in a key midfield battle.

Belgium proved their strength in depth to beat Japan too – Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli issuing reminders of their national form, even if club form has not been so great in the Premier League.

In all, however, it is difficult to split these two teams. In other circumstances, this fixture would not have looked out of place as the World Cup 2018 final. The draw means they instead meet in the quarter-finals – and it could take a penalty shoot-out to split them.

Brazil vs Belgium Recommended bets with odds

Brazil are favourites to beat Belgium, at 11/10 with the likes of Bet365, Betfair and Betway, but Belgium have not lost for nearly two years and it is hard to back against them. The draws is a best price of 5/2 with Bet365.

Brazil’s excellent defensive record could be key, with both sides boasting strong attacks, and you can get a best price of 20/23 with Betfair on there being under 2.5 goals.

Both teams to score has been set at a best price of 13/15 with 10Bet, meanwhile, and a score draw is 7/2 with Bet365 and Betfair.

As for the goalscorers, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo out of this World Cup, Neymar has an opportunity to shine. He has a point to prove too, after his play-acting in the last-16 win against Mexico was branded ‘embarrassing’. He is 23/17 to score at any time with 888sport.

Romelu Lukaku is 9/4 with 888sport, meanwhile, while other good options include Brazil’s number nine Gabriel Jesus at 21/10 with Betfair and Paddy Power and Eden Hazard at 57/17 with 888sport.

Brazil vs Belgium Top three bets

1) Total goals = under 2.5 at 20/23 with Betfair
2) Both teams to score at 13/15 with 10Bet
3) Neymar to score at any time at 23/17 with 888sports

Brazil vs Belgium Prediction

Brazil are excellent in defence and strong going forward, but Belgium boast the creative midfielders and strikers to find a way through. With so little between the two teams, it could go to penalties.

Correct score prediction: Brazil 1-1 Belgium

Correct score best odds: 6/1 (Bet365)

Brazil Team News

Marcelo dropped to the bench for the last-16 match against Mexico having been taken off with back spasms against Serbia in the final group game. Felipe Luis started at left-back in his place. The Real Madrid man joined former club team-mate Danilo on the bench for the game. Danilo started the tournament at right-back but has only just returned to fitness after injury and Fagner has taken his place. Douglas Costa is still out injured, while Casemiro will be replaced by Fernandinho in central midfield after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament.

Brazil Key Players

Neymar (forward)- His goal against Mexico was the 57th of his international career on his 89th Brazil appearance.
Fernandinho (central midfield) – Will replace Real Madrid man Casemiro in the middle of midfield, which pitches him directly against club team-mate Kevin de Bruyne
Philippe Coutinho (midfielder/forward) – The Mexico match was the first time in five games he was not involved in any of Brazil’s goals

Round of 16: Brazil 2-0 Mexico (Neymar, Firmino)

Brazil booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win against Mexico, and they would have won by a lot more were it not for more inspired form from goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Brazil hit 14 shots on target in total, though Alisson was well worked too – he faced nine shots on target but maintained his recent run of clean sheets. Neymar was the man to find the breakthrough for Brazil, tapping in Willian’s cross from close-range, before Roberto Firmino added a late second off the bench.

Brazil Team Form

Brazil are unbeaten since a friendly against Argentina in August. They have now conceded just once in their last nine matches, with that Switzerland goal also responsible for the only one of Brazil’s last eight matches they have not won. Their last three games in Russia have all ended 2-0 – a late, late win against Costa Rica before victories against Serbia and Mexico.

Brazil Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 4-3-3

 

Belgium Team News

Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard returned to fitness to face Japan, while super-subs Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli may have given Belgium boss Roberto Martinez something to ponder after their match-winning introductions from the bench. Vincent Kompany made his first start of the 2018 World Cup against Japan while Thomas Vermaelen is also fit again.

Belgium Key Players

Romelu Lukaku (striker) – Proved his Golden Boot credentials with four goals in the first two games, and is now fit again after injury
Eden Hazard (winger) – The Chelsea winger is also fit again having scored twice against Tunisia in the second group game. He set up Marouane Fellaini’s equalizer against Japan.
Kevin de Bruyne (central midfielder) – His range of passing was never more obvious than in his part in Belgium’s winning goal against Japan.

Belgium Round of 16: Belgium 3-2 Japan

Another shock result looked to be on the cards when Japan took a 2-0 lead against Belgium early in the second-half. Jan Vertonghen’s looping header started the comeback, however, before Marouane Fellaini headed in from Eden Hazard’s cross to equalise. A brilliant Belgium breakaway in the last minute of stoppage time then won the game for the Red Devils – Kevin de Bruyne releasing Thomas Meunier who crossed for Nacer Chadli to tap in from close-range.

Belgium Team Form

Unbeaten since August 2016, Belgium have now won six matches in a row and scored 19 goals in the process. They beat Egypt 3-0 and Costa Rica 4-1 ahead of the World Cup, before a 3-0 win against Panama and 5-2 defeat of Tunisia in the group stages. A 1-0 win against England, in a match featuring two heavily-rotated teams, saw them qualify top of Group G before the dramatic comeback win against Japan booked their place in this quarter-final.

Belgium Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 3-4-3

Brazil remain tournament favourites but face their toughest challenge so far in Russia when they take on Belgium in the quarter-finals. Belgium have won all four matches they have played to get to this stage, even if they left it very late to beat Japan, and Neymar and co will definitely not have it all their own way on Friday. This could go all the way to the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Belgium have not lost since a friendly defeat to Spain in August 2016 - a 23-game unbeaten run.