It’d be a big one in Brussels on Thursday night as Belgium takes on the dominant Italian national team in the Nations League. Having played out an uninspiring stalemate barely a month ago, each one of these teams will be looking to get one over the other. However, Belgium will be going into the match as an underdog.
After carefully studying this feature’s prospects, we will provide a full analysis for Kenyan bettors. Keep reading for useful betting tips on this tie.
Belgium vs Italy Head-to-Head Analysis
The previous games between these two going into this tie would set a helpful undertone and could help deduce the possible result from this upcoming tie. Let us examine how these two teams have fared against one another in the past and how likely it is for history to repeat itself. Read more in the subsections below.
Historic Performances
The Red Devils have been underwhelming in their meetings against the Italian national team. It has been an easy affair for the Azzurri, having won four out of their six encounters with Belgium. They have only lost one game to the Belgians as far back as 2015.
Speaking specifically to the Nations League, these two European giants have met twice, with Italy recording a 2 – 1 win in 2021.
Recent Encounters
Looking up the last five games between these two, comprising one international friendly, two UEFA Euro, and two Nation League matches, we discovered Italy had won the tie thrice, with their only defeat coming in the friendly match in 2015.
So, Kenyan readers and bettors may want to factor in the one-sidedness when picking out their bets. However, be reminded that the most recent encounter between these two ended in an entertaining two-goal draw.
Key Factors Influencing the Match
We have spoken enough about the previous encounters between these two national teams. Now, let’s look at the other individual results that may influence the teams’ forms and possible outcomes from their match-up on Thursday night. Keep reading.
Previous Match
Belgium had a rather close encounter with the French National team during the last international break but lost by two goals to one. However, the Azzurri’s dominant display and victory against Israel was impressive.
In the last three matches for these two teams, excluding the ones they played against one another, Belgium only managed a win while losing twice. However, Italy won all of its last three games against distinct opponents.
Consider the strength of the team Belgium last played with. However, the reality is that The Red Devils have been on a poor run most recently. Unfortunately, the Belgian national team appears weak at the moment, thus swaying the tie in favor of the Italians.
Players
Belgium does not possess stand-out players in defense. However, their attack is nothing short of electric. Unfortunately, Kevin De Bruyne would be missing out again for safety reasons following his most recent return from injury. Moreover, the on-form Napoli striker and all-time top scorer for Belgium, Romelu Lukaku, will return to the side.
The Azzurri will only have two changes to their squad from last time out following the injuries to Arsenal’s new signing, Riccardo Calafiori, and another, Matteo Gabbia. In turn, Federico Gatti will return to the side and Commuzzo earns his first ever call-up.
The Italian team, including Bastoni, Di Lorenzo, Barellla, and Tonali, has a strong defense and midfield. However, their attack is tame. Nonetheless, Retegui will be looking to have an impact once again, having scored in the last two fixtures.
Home Advantage
Belgium have not been especially spectacular on home grounds or away in the Nations League since their first home win against Israel in the opening fixture. So, Kenyan punters may want to disregard the home-factor effect on the outcome of this fixture.
Unfortunately for the Red Devils, the Italians have dominated at home and on away turf in this competition. The Azzurri look like the favorites to win this tie, regardless of being away on Belgian grounds.
Betting Tips
With the head-to-head stats and key match factors in mind, here are our top Belgium vs Italy match betting tips for Kenya punters:
Betting Odds
Let’s look at how Kenyan Bookmakers set the odds for the fixture:
Belgium to Win – 2.534 | Draw – 3.555 | Italy to Win – 2.947
Sportsbooks give Belgium a slight edge to win over Italy, so the Azzurri are the underdogs in this scenario. However, these odds can be favorable, especially in the case of a draw. We have already predicted a possible draw between those two teams, with Italy being the most likely winner of the tie due to squad quality and recent forms.
Final Thoughts on the Match
The Belgium vs Italy game will be exciting to watch. However, be aware that our predictions were based on the feasible statistics we found on these two teams and do not provide assurances of the possible outcome of the match. So, gamble responsibly. For other predictive analysis, keep visiting our website.
Samuel Okunsolawo is an iGaming expert with over six years of experience in content writing. His passion for simplifying complex concepts makes his articles accessible and useful for beginners and experts alike. With a focus on sports betting trends and reliable betting sites, Samuel’s articles are an excellent resource for those seeking guidance and staying up to date in the world of iGaming.