Scotland VS Belgium Match Prediction

In 14 prior meetings, Scotland have only two wins and two draws against the Belgians so far.  Here's a look at the last four results:    

Jun 11, 2019: Belgium 3-0 Scotland (ECQ)
Sep 7, 2018: Scotland 0-4 Belgium (Fri)
Sep 6, 2013: Scotland 0-2 Belgium (WCQ)
Oct 16, 2012: Belgium 2-0 Scotland (WCQ)

Sctoland vs Belgium Betting Tips and Odds

Betfair have the following odds available for this match:

Scotland are at 6.5, a draw is at 4.2, and Belgium are at 1.5.  

Belgium winning at half and full time is at 2.4.    

* Top two teams advance automatically to 2020 European Championship *

Through five match days in Group I, the Belgians are, to no great shock, on top with a perfect 15 points.  Close behind them is Russia, who have 12 to their names.  Then, you have Kazakhstan on seven and Scotland in six.  It’s getting to be desperate times for the Scots, who have to win here to have a realistic chance of moving on automatically.  

Scotland are not having their best ever campaign here in this group at all.  They aren’t expected to beat the bigger sides like Belgium, but many would hope for results over Russia.  They certainly should be doing better against Kazakhstan, in the eyes of their fans, and that’s where they have fallen short.  At any rate, they have five wins and five losses this last year, giving them an incredibly mixed record.  

Belgium, on the other hand, are just rampaging their way through the group on the way to easily qualifying.  They didn’t win their Nations League group and go to the Finals, but they have rebounded by trouncing all in the qualification group so far.  They are just about their already, and they will be one of the favorites once they have gotten there.  In their last year, they have eight wins, a draw, and just one loss.  

Sctoland vs Belgium Match Prediction

Scotland have some really nice players in their ranks right now, but they are a little too few to give Belgium any serious worries.  The visitors have sufficient depth to produce a victory on foreign soil for sure.  

Correct Score Predition: Scotland 0-3 Belgium

Scotland Team News

Steve Clarke decided to leave out goalkeeper Scott Bain, defenders Grant Hanley and Liam Palmer, midfielder Tom Cairney, and forward Oliver Burke, among others in this current group of players.  

Scotland Key Man

Andy Robertson, the Liverpool left back that regularly takes up shop in opponents’ halves for the Reds, is the main man in the Scotland side, such is their lack of a real threat going forward.  He’s tremendous at making great runs and at crossing, but it is asking a whole lot of him to be their star performer from that deep without a big risk.  The other man they can rely on is Ryan Fraser.  The diminutive winger has done well in the Premier League with Bournemouth, but he has often found it tougher for him at the international level.  

Scotland Team Form

Scotland have three losses and two wins in their last five matches:

1-2 home loss vs Russia
3-0 loss at Belgium
2-1 home win vs Cyprus
0-2 win at San Marino
3-0 loss at Kazakhstan

Scotland Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 4-3-3

Belgium Team News

Roberto Martinez took the chance to rotate a lot of his team on Friday as they romped to victory over lowly San Marino, so they will be fresh and ready to go here.  Goalkeeper Koen Casteels is out injured, as is captain Eden Hazard and his brother, Thorgan.  Axel Witsel did not get called up along with veteran defender Vincent Kompany following his move to Anderlecht over the summer. 

Belgium Key Man

In the reverse fixture back in Brussels, Belgium ran out 3-0 winners thanks to Romelu Lukaku running riot on the day.  The Inter Milan striker bagged a brace to set them off and they never looked back, with the first of the two going in right on the stroke of half time to kill the Scots’ belief greatly.  Kevin De Bruyne is a danger man that Scotland will know all too well about.  The Man City man can pick a pass from virtually anywhere on the park, so it doesn’t matter where he is lined up: he can and will hurt you in the blink of an eye.  

Belgium Team Form

Belgium have won each of their last five matches:

0-4 win at San Marino
3-0 home win vs Scotland
3-0 home win vs Kazakhstan
0-2 win at Cyprus 
3-1 home win vs Russia

Belgium Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 3-4-3

No disrespect is intended for Russia, who are a pretty good side in their own right, but if Scotland can't overcome them at home, then it's not looking like their chances of defeating the mighty Belgians are going to be much better here. Belgium have a ferocious attack, a well-tuned midfield, and they have a solid defence that can repel any and all invasions. That's more than enough to see off a Scotland side, barring a performance for the ages from the hosts.

Belgium have outright dominated Scotland in the last five fixtures against them, winning all five and doing so without conceding while scoring 13 goals of their own.