Belgium will host Montenegro at the King Baudouin Stadium on Wednesday, looking to continue their preparations for Euro 2024 with a win.
Belgium will be the favourites heading into the game against Montenegro, and it remains to be seen whether they can grind out a positive result here. The Red Devils will be one of the favourites to win the European Championships, and they will be expected to put on impressive performances here as well.
Following Wednesday’s friendly in Brussels, Belgium will take on Luxembourg on Saturday before heading to the European Championships. They are coming into this game on the back of three draws and two wins from their last five matches. Domenico Tedesco’s men have been difficult to beat, and it will be interesting to see if they can build the required momentum.
On the other hand, Montenegro have picked up three wins from the last four matches, and they will look to upset the odds here. The visitors will look to put a dent in Belgium’s preparations for the marquee tournament. With the visitors in impressive form right now, this is likely to be a cracking contest, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Team News & Tactics
Belgium
Belgium do not have any major injury problems heading into this game, and the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel are likely to return. The hosts are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Matz Sels in goal.
Timothy Castagne and Arthur Theate will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out in the attack as well. Zeno Debast will start alongside Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the defence.
In the midfield pivot, Amadou Onana will start alongside Youri Tielemans. Onana will look to break up opposition attacks and shield the back four. On the other hand, the Tielemans will add creativity and control from the deep.
Kevin De Bruyne will start in his natural role as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create goal scoring opportunities in the final third. Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard will add pace, flair and creativity from the flanks. Romelu Lukaku will lead the line for Belgium against Montenegro.
Probable lineup (4-2-3-1): Sels; Castagne, Debast, Vertonghen, Theate; Onana, Tielemans; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; Lukaku
Montenegro
The visitors have a number of injury problems heading into this contest, and they will be without Stefan Savic, Risto Radunovic, and Stefan Loncar. Montenegro will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation as well, with Matija Sarkic in goal.
Marko Vukcevic and Andrija Vukcevic will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Igor Vujacic and Meldin Dreskovic which will form the central defensive partnership.
In the midfield pivot, Marko Jankovic will start alongside Marko Bakic, and they will look to provide defensive cover and stability in the middle. Stevan Jovetic will start in the attacking midfield role behind striker Stefan Mugosa.
Driton Camaj and Vladimir Jovovic will start in the wide areas. They will look to hit Belgium on the counter attack with their pace and flair.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sarkic; Vukcevic, Vujacic, Dreskovic, Vukcevic; Jankovic, Bakic; Jovovic, Jovetic, Camaj; Mugosa
Key Stats
- Belgium are undefeated in their last 12 games.
- Belgium have scored 27 goals in their last 12 outings.
- Montenegro have picked up five wins in the last eight matches
- Belgium and Montenegro have faced each other once back in 2012 and they cancelled each other out in a draw.
Player to Watch
Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian midfielder has been an exceptional form for Manchester City since his return from injury, and he will look to carry that form and momentum into the European Championships as well.
De Bruyne could cause all sorts of problems for the Montenegro defence with his creativity and goalscoring ability. The 32-year-old midfielder is our key player to watch out for, and he could pull the Montenegro defence apart with his technique, vision and execution.
Prediction
Belgium 2-0 Montenegro
Belgium are undoubtedly the better team here, and they will be form favourites to win the game. The gulf in class between the two teams is quite immense and the Red Devils should be able to pick up a comfortable victory here.
Montenegro are in impressive form, and they will look to put the home side under pressure. But the visitors are likely to come up short. They have a few injury issues as well and a 2-0 win for the home team is on the cards.