Wales welcome Belgium to the Cardiff City Stadium in a crucial Group 4 clash in League A of 2022-23 UEFA Nations League.
Victory could see Wales climb off the foot of Group 4 if Poland lose to the Netherlands, whereas a win would see Belgium go top if Netherlands lose elsewhere.
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Kieffer Moore has withdrawn from the Wales squad with an unspecified injury, which forced him to miss Wednesday’s midweek defeat against Netherlands.
Tom King has been called up to the goalkeeping squad due to fitness concerns over Danny Ward and Wayne Hennessey, as manager – Rob Page again looks to rotate his squad.
Belgium have no fresh injury concerns to report after Wednesday’s 6-1 victory over Poland but Thibaut Courtois and Jason Denayer are absent, having withdrawn from the squad prior to their opening Nations League match.
Stat Attack
- Wales are meeting Belgium in the Nations League for the very first time but are unbeaten in five of their last six meetings in all competitions (W2, D3, L1).
- Belgium have won two of their last five visits to Wales across all competitions (W2, D1, L2).
- Both teams have scored five goals apiece in their last three meetings across all competitions.
- Wales have kept just one clean sheet in their last six matches in all competitions (W3, D2, L1), as they defeated Ukraine 1-0 in their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Play-Off Final.
- Belgium have scored first in each of their last two away matches with both opening goals scored in the 12th minute, courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne and Michy Batshuayi against Wales and Republic of Ireland respectively.
Prediction
Having fought hard but fallen short in each of their two Nations League matches so far this campaign, Wales now need a huge result if they’re keep their survival hopes alive in the event that Poland defeat the Netherlands elsewhere.
Rob Page’s Welsh Dragons must therefore look to tighten up defensively because errors at the back have proven their downfall against Poland and Netherlands so far, because they have proven that they can match their stronger group opposition in attack.
Belgium meanwhile is coming into this match off the back of a ruthless comeback midweek win over Poland so Wales will have to hope that Roberto Martinez rotates his squad again, otherwise this could be a tough task if the visitors are at their best.
Wales though can take heart from their recent form against Belgium but they need the perfect performance and a raucous crowd atmosphere to stand any chance, because I can see Belgium winning this game comfortably if they play like they did against Poland.
Prediction: Wales 1-2 Belgium
