Belgium vs. Belarus – World Cup Qualifier, March 30, 2021

Matchday 3 of World Cup qualifying gets underway on Tuesday, March 30, with Belgium hosting Belarus in Group E.

The world’s number-one ranked nation has picked up four points from a possible six so far, while Belarus kicked off their qualifying campaign with a 4-2 victory over Estonia.

Before we get into my prediction and pick for Tuesday’s clash, let’s take a look at the Belgium vs. Belarus odds.

Despite Belarus’ big win at the weekend, the top online sportsbooks expect Belgium to claim all three points with ease on Tuesday.

The Red Devils were held to a surprise draw by the Czech Republic last time out, but the bookmakers are clearly expecting them to bounce back and return to winning ways on home soil.

Here is my Belgium vs. Belarus preview.

Belgium’s WCQ campaign began with a simple 3-1 victory over Wales, with Kevin De Bruyne, Thorgan Hazard, and Romelu Lukaku getting on the scoresheet. However, Robert Martinez’s men were given a run for their money on Matchday 2.

Despite enjoying large spells of possession against the Czechs, Belgium was forced to come from behind and rescue a draw in Prague. In fact, the hosts created the bulk of the chances, although Lukaku eventually saved his side.

Lukaku – Belgium’s all-time leading scorer – now has 59 goals in 91 appearances for his country, and he is still just 27!

Looking at the bigger picture, the Red Devils have only lost one of their previous 20 matches in all competitions, picking up a whopping 17 wins in that time. But they will be eager to avoid any slip-ups on Tuesday.

Martinez could shake things up and alter his starting XI following Saturday’s unexpected draw. Still, Belgium’s squad is absolutely stacked with world-class stars, meaning they should be able to overcome Belarus without any real issues.

?? A table that will look very good indeed to Czech Republic fans ?#WCQ | #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/RX5G3ugQCZ

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 27, 2021

On the flip side, the White Wings can take confidence from the fact they came from behind on two occasions to get the better of Estonia on Saturday.

Having trailed 0-1 and 1-2, Belarus twice turned things around on Matchday 2. A brace from Vitali Lisakovich, along with goals from Yury Kendysh and Pavel Savitski, saw the home side end up with a solid 4-2 victory.

That said, Mikhail Markhel’s men have only managed to win two of their last five outings in all competitions. Indeed, recent high-scoring losses against Romania (5-3) and Albania (3-2) give you an idea of Belarus’ current level.

Having netted a brace last time out, Lisakovich is obviously Belarus’ danger man. The forward has bagged three goals and four assists for Lokomotiv Moscow this season, and he also has a Champions League goal to his name.

Still, it goes without saying that Lisakovich’s team-mates will also need to be at their very best if Belarus is to keep Belgium at bay.

Many believe that FIFA’s world rankings count for very little. But when you consider that Belgium is ranked first and Belarus currently sits 88th, it is difficult to ignore facts.

Of course, the price for the home win is nothing to get excited about here. But if you’re looking for a safe World Cup qualifying bet this week, look no further than Belgium.