Belgium vs Wales – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | UEFA Nations League

Gareth Bale, Wales captain, celebrates a goal during the World Cup 4th round qualifying match against Belarus
Gareth Bale, Wales captain, celebrates a goal during the World Cup 4th round qualifying match against Belarus

Belgium will host Wales this Thursday in the fifth round of the UEFA Nations League.

Venue: King Baudouin Stadium (Brusel) 

Key Statistics

Belgium have won six and lost just once in seven UEFA Nations League (UNL) home fixtures.

They have scored 3+ goals in four of their last six games at home.

The hosts have scored in each of their last 48 games.

Wales have won just one of their last six games (D2, L3).

The visitors have kept one clean sheet in their last nine games.

There’s been an average of one goal per game after the 75th minute across Wales’s last five UNL away fixtures (W2, D1, L2).

Head to head

In 14 meetings between both sides, Belgium have five wins while Wales have four wins.

Latest performances in all competitions

Belgium: W-D-W-L-W

Wales: L-D-L-W-L 

Belgium 

Belgium will look to extend their unbeaten run in the UEFA Nations League to four games when they welcome Wales to Brussels this Thursday.

The hosts opened their UNL account with a surprise 4-1 defeat to the Netherlands in June. But since then they have recorded two wins and a draw in subsequent games, with the last of those coming as a 1-0 away to Poland.

And so they come into this round of games sitting second in their group, three points behind the Netherlands who are still unbeaten. And so they will be hoping to win this game and set up a winner-takes-all clash with the Dutch side.

A win in this game will also extend a three-match unbeaten head-to-head run against Wales (W1, D2) as their build-up to the 2022 World Cup takes another step up in intensity.

Given that the Red Devils are yet to draw a UNL home fixture (W6, L1), they will fancy their chances of recording another three points in this game.

Possible Belgium starting line-up

Simon Mignolet; Leander Dendoncker, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen; Timothy Castagne, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel, Thorgan Hazard, Dries Mertens, Michy Batshuayi, Eden Hazard.

Injured: Romelu Lukaku

Suspended: None 

Wales

Wales will be looking to pick up their first win in four tries when they travel to Brussels on Thursday.

The visitors have endured a poor start to their UNL campaign, with just one point to show after four rounds of group games. The point came against Belgium in a 1-1 draw in Cardiff in June.

And so they come into this tie sitting rock bottom in the group. With just two group games remaining, they trail Poland, who they play in the final round, by three points, so are up against it after having to prioritise their rescheduled World Cup qualifier against Ukraine earlier this year.

While Wales boss Rob Page can take confidence in his new four-year deal, he will be scratching his head over which players to field in this game as experienced players Joe Allen, Ben Davies, Aaron Ramsey and Harry Wilson will all miss this tie through injury. Page may also not risk Gareth Bale due to his late arrival following MLS action. 

However, with the absence of his experienced stars, Page might offer a glimpse of Wales’ future after calling up teenage midfielders Luke Harris and Jamie Jordan.

Possible Wales starting line-up

Wayne Hennessey; Chris Mepham, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu; Wes Burns, Billy Gilmour, Matt Smith, Luke Harris, Sorba Thomas; Daniel James, Brennan Johnson.

Injured: Harry Wilson, Joe Allen, Ben Davies

Suspended: None

Prediction

Belgium 2-0 Wales