Prediction: Belgium vs France

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 11/8

Bookmaker: Unibet

Belgium and France are set to face off once again on Monday night in the UEFA Nations League at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, marking their second meeting within a month.

France, after suffering a defeat on the opening day of the competition, have since bounced back by winning their last two matches. This resurgence has revitalized their campaign and put them in contention for a strong finish in the group. On the other hand, Belgium’s form has faltered after their early win over Israel on matchday one. They have since slipped from first to third place, making Monday’s match a crucial one if they hope to regain ground and challenge for the top spot.

Belgium

Belgium will have mixed emotions following their 2-2 draw with Italy on Thursday night. Domenico Tedesco’s side was completely outplayed for the first 30 minutes, conceding two early goals, but a red card for Italy’s Lorenzo Pellegrini changed the complexion of the match. Belgium quickly capitalized, with Maxim De Cuyper pulling a goal back immediately before Leandro Trossard levelled the score just after the hour mark.

The Red Devils will feel hard done by, especially after a strong claim for a penalty and a potential red card for Italy’s Alessandro Bastoni went unpunished when he brought down Lois Openda in the box. However, despite the man advantage, Belgium couldn’t find the winner, leaving the match with a point that still keeps them in a relatively favourable position.

With three games down, Belgium sit outside the top two, but yet to face both France and Italy at home, they can still push for qualification. Having already beaten Israel, the Red Devils will now look to take advantage of their remaining fixtures.

Team News

Romelu Lukaku’s continued absence from the Belgian squad has raised eyebrows, especially considering his good form at Napoli. Lukaku himself cited his need to stay in Naples to focus on building fitness, having missed much of the preseason, but it remains unclear if there are deeper issues behind his exclusion.

Belgium’s ongoing issues with Thibaut Courtois also continue to loom large. The Real Madrid goalkeeper has been left out of the squad due to an injury, though his strained relationship with manager Domenico Tedesco means he likely would not have been called up anyway. On top of that, Matz Sels has pulled out late with a knock, further complicating Belgium’s goalkeeping options.

Kevin De Bruyne’s absence is another significant blow, leaving Youri Tielemans as the only remaining player from Belgium’s 2018 World Cup squad. The lack of experienced midfielders has put extra pressure on Tedesco, who seems to be experimenting with different formations.

France

France head into their second meeting with Belgium in just over a month with confidence on their side, having won the reverse fixture 2-0 in September. Didier Deschamps’ side also triumphed in a tight 1-0 win over the Red Devils during the last 16 of Euro 2024 and boast a strong competitive record against their neighbours. Notably, France came from 2-0 down to beat Belgium 3-2 in the 2021 Nations League semifinals, and they also edged past them in the 2018 World Cup semifinal. This history of success undoubtedly gives Les Bleus the upper hand heading into Monday’s clash.

Adding to France’s confidence is their comprehensive 4-1 away win over Israel on Thursday, where Deschamps’ men dominated for 90 minutes in Hungary. Although Israel managed to equalize with their only shot of the game, France quickly retook the lead and added two late goals to secure a comfortable victory. This result marked France’s second straight win after their 3-1 loss to Italy on matchday one, showing a clear response from Deschamps’ squad.

With two wins on the bounce, France now sit in second place and a third victory here would virtually ensure a top-two finish in League A Group 3, especially considering they still have an easier fixture at home against Israel to come.

Team News

France will be without Kylian Mbappe for Monday’s clash against Belgium, as the Real Madrid star pulled out of the squad due to concerns that he was rushed back too soon after a recent setback. This absence adds to a string of notable omissions, including Antoine Griezmann, who retired from international duty last month after being dropped for France’s 3-1 loss to Italy.

Additionally, N’Golo Kante wasn’t called up due to missing his most recent club fixture in Saudi Arabia, while Adrien Rabiot was also overlooked after limited playing time at Marseille.

Deschamps may opt for changes in midfield following the attacking lineup used against Israel. Bradley Barcola and Matteo Guendouzi, both of whom impressed off the bench during France’s 4-1 win on Thursday, could be handed starts, particularly if Deschamps reverts to a more balanced three-man midfield.

Conclusion

This upcoming match is the latest in a series of close encounters between these two neighbours, following their meeting last month and in Germany over the summer. With the stakes rising, both teams will be eager to assert their dominance on Monday.

Not that France have been great lately, but they should have just about enough in their locker to beat Belgium lacking a number of very important players.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 11/8

Bookmaker: Unibet