Belgium vs Serbia: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

The November break is set to be underway with this international friendly

Belgium are riding high on their unbeaten streak, having already secured a spot in Euro 2024 with an impressive record of five wins and two draws. Their upcoming friendly against Serbia are crucial for maintaining momentum before facing Azerbaijan in a bid to top their group next week. Under Domenico Tedesco's leadership, Belgium have been on a nine-game unbeaten run since a setback at the 2022 World Cup, including a notable 3-2 away victory against Germany.

In their recent outing, a 1-1 draw was declared as their qualifying match with Sweden were abandoned at halftime due to a tragic shooting incident in Brussels, resulting in the loss of two Swedish lives.

On the other side, Serbia are gearing up for a crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against Bulgaria, as they compete with Hungary and Montenegro in Group G. Despite recent defeats to Hungary and victories over Lithuania and Montenegro, Serbia face the risk of missing out on Euro 2024. Montenegro, trailing by five points with a game in hand, poses a potential threat to Serbia's qualification hopes.

Kick-Off:

Thursday, November 16, 2023, 01:15 AM (IST), Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels, ‎Belgium.

Form

Belgium: D W W W W

Serbia: W L W L D

Players to Watch

Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)

Congo native Romelu Lukaku is a Belgian player. Lukaku participated in the youth ranks of numerous teams before being selected by RSC Anderlecht. He played for Anderlecht for just two seasons before being acquired by Chelsea for almost 12 million euros.

Lukaku played for WBA before moving to Everton for around 35 million euros. He was never able to break into Chelsea's starting lineup.At the age of sixteen, Lukaku earned his debut for the senior Belgian national team in February 2010. He is one of the youngest players on the team.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia)

Aleksandar Mitrovic is a talented Serbian footballer who started his career at Partizan, winning the Serbian SuperLiga in his first professional season. At just 18, he gained recognition as one of Europe's top talents. He then moved to Anderlecht, setting a club record with a €5 million transfer and winning the Belgian Pro League in his first season.

After a successful stint in Belgium, he joined Newcastle United in 2015 for £13 million. Later, in 2018, he was loaned to Fulham, where he played a crucial role in their promotion to the Premier League and subsequently joined them permanently. Currently, he plays for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and represents the Serbia national team. It's a journey marked by achievements and transitions, showcasing his growth and impact in the world of football.

Match facts

• Belgium have won nine straight games.
• The national football team of Belgium defeated Serbia in its last three games.
• Romelu Lukaku has 10 goals in his seven Euro 2024 qualifying games.
• BTTS has landed in each of Serbia’s last six games.

Team news and Injury

Belgian national football team is grappling with injury concerns that could impact their defensive and midfield setups. Coach Domenico Tedesco expressed apprehension regarding the fitness of key players, namely defender Jan Vertonghen and midfielder Amadou Onana. Their availability for the friendly clash with Serbia and the Euro 2024 qualifier against Azerbaijan hangs in the balance. However, injecting a glimmer of optimism, Tedesco announced the return of Leonardo Trossard, a welcomed recall that aims to bolster the team's strength and depth for the challenging matches ahead.

Meanwhile, the Serbian squad faces its own set of challenges as they navigate through the player roster for the upcoming fixtures. Star midfielder Milinkovic-Savic is currently grappling with a knee injury, casting doubt on his participation in the upcoming matches. Additionally, Lazovic is experiencing physical discomfort, adding another layer of complexity to the coach's selection process. The Serbian team, despite these setbacks, remains resilient as they prepare to navigate the competitive landscape, hoping to overcome these obstacles and deliver strong performances on the pitch.

Head-to-Head

Matches: 5

Belgium: 3

Draw: 1

Serbia: 1

Predicted Lineup for Belgium vs Serbia

Belgium Predicted Lineup: (4-3-3)

Sels; T Castagne, Faes, Vetronghen, Theate; Mangala, Onana, Openda; Lukebakio, Lukaku, Doku

Serbia Predicted Lineup: (3-4-2-1)

Milinkovic-Savic; Rukavina, Veljkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Ilic, Gudelj, Mladenovic; Tadic, Lukic; Mitrovic

Match Prediction for Belgium vs Serbia

Under Domenico Tedesco's leadership, Belgium had a successful 2023 calendar year. Their last completed match was a 3-2 loss to Austria in Vienna earlier this month. This indicates that since losing to Morocco in the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stages, the Belgians have gone undefeated in their previous eight games.

They now have to contend with a Serbian team that possesses a fantastic roster of players but frequently performs below expectations. Despite a few mistakes during the qualifying process, they are almost certain to qualify for UEFA EURO 2024. For the neutral, this may be an entertaining game to watch as Belgium are the clear favorites.

Prediction: Belgium 2-1 Serbia

Telecast

India – No data available

UK– No data available

US – No data available

Nigeria – No data available