Switzerland VS Belgium Match Prediction
2018-11-18
19:45:00
Switzerland
VS
Belgium
Our Prediction Tip
Belgium will win this match.
2018-11-1819:45:00 Belgium will win this match.
Belgium’s home win against Switzerland last month was their 14th in 28 previous matches between the two nations - the Swiss have won eight - but it was only the second time they have met since 1989. The only other game since then was a friendly in May 2016 which Belgium also won 2-1. Romelu Lukaku scored both goals last time out, with Mario Gavranovic scoring the Swiss goal, and the big striker scored in the previous meeting too, before Kevin de Bruyne’s late winner after Blerim Dzemaili had earlier opened the scoring.
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With three wins from three matches so far, Belgium go into this game with the upper hand in Group A2 and only need a draw to qualify for the UEFA Nations League finals.
And, when you consider they have lost just one game in the last two years – and that was a World Cup semi-final against eventual world champions France – it shows how good a position that is for Roberto Martinez’s Red Devils to be in.
Switzerland’s friendly defeat to Qatar was their third in five games – Iceland are the only team they have beaten since the World Cup – and home advantage may count for little against Belgium.
Defeat to Sweden at the World Cup and the friendly loss to England – as well as last month’s defeat to Belgium – have burst the bubble of good form they were in some 12 months ago.
Romelu Lukaku scored both goals as Belgium beat Switzerland 2-1 in the reverse fixture, but even if the big striker misses out there is plenty of strength in depth – Michy Batshuayi scoring both goals in Lukaku’s place last time out.
Eden Hazard is in world-beating form, while the return of Vincent Kompany and Toby Alderweireld to full fitness at the back in recent months is another bonus.
Switzerland should not be written off, they proved that with some excellent results in World Cup 2018 qualification, but Belgium are favourites for this one.
The Red Devils only need a draw to qualify, but they are perfectly capable of getting all three points.
Belgium are favourites to beat Switzerland, which is little surprise given their stunning form over the last two years, and you can back them at 6/5 with Betway to do so.
As the Red Devils only need a draw to qualify for the UEFA Nations League Finals, you can back them at 8/15 to win and draw no bet too.
Both teams scored when they last met last month, and a Belgium win and BTTS is a best price of 7/2 with Bet365, Paddy Power and Betfair. Both teams to score has been set at 4/5 with Betfair and 10Bet.
Romelu Lukaku scored both goals when they last met and is 6/4 with Betfair and Paddy Power to score at any time again. With question marks over his fitness, however, Michy Batshuayi might be a better option – he is 37/20 to score at any time with 888sport.
Belgium have won three from three so far in the UEFA Nations League and, with Switzerland out of form of late, there is nothing to suggest the Red Devils can not complete the group with an unblemished record.
Borussia Dortmund duo Roman Burki and Manuel Akanji, and Schalke 04’s Breel Embolo all dropped out of the squad ahead of the friendly with Qatar due to injury. The likes of Haris Seferovic, Timm Klose, Yann Sommer and Nico Elvedi sat out that game and, after Switzerland succumbed to a late 1-0 defeat, they are all likely to return against Belgium.
Haris Seferovic – Recaptured some goalscoring form with Benfica this season and has 14 in 58 appearances up front for Switzerland.
Xherdan Shaqiri – The top scorer in the current Swiss squad with 22 goals from 79 appearances.
Granit Xhaka – The Arsenal anchorman will patrol the midfield and is also capable of a long-range goal if he finds some time and space to roam forward.
In the last seven games, Switzerland have won just two and lost four – with both wins coming against Iceland. Steven Zuber, Denis Zakaria, Xherdan Shaqiri, Haris Seferovic, Albian Ajeti and Admir Mehmedi scored in a 6-0 defeat of Iceland in September, while Seferovic and Michael Lang earned a 2-1 win last month. In between, Switzerland lost 1-0 to England in a friendly and 2-1 to Belgium despite Mario Gavranovic’s goal. Last time out, meanwhile, they lost to a late Qatar goal in a friendly in Lugano.
Top scorer Romelu Lukaku is an injury doubt, having been rested for the win against Iceland due to a hamstring injury. Michy Batshuayi started and scored both goals in his place. Adnan Januzaj is back in the squad after injury, while Leander Dendoncker has returned despite not featuring for Wolves much this season. At the back, Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen are out injured, while Marouane Fellaini and Mousa Dembele were allowed to continue working on their fitness at their clubs. Kevin de Bruyne’s latest injury set-back keeps him sidelined.
Michy Batshuayi – Scored both goals in the win against Iceland that keeps Belgium in pole position in the group.
Eden Hazard – The Belgian captain will win his 98th cap against Switzerland, with the in-form Chelsea playmaker having scored 27 international goals so far.
Romelu Lukaku – Out of form at club level but his international record – including both goals in last month’s win against Switzerland – speaks for itself.
Belgium have won four and drawn one of their five matches since the World Cup – with last month’s 1-1 with the Netherlands their only slight blip despite Dries Mertens’ early goal. It followed the 2-1 defeat of Switzerland, in which Romelu Lukaku scored a double, while Michy Batshuayi scored both goals in a 2-0 defeat of Iceland last time out.
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