Belgium vs North Macedonia Preview
It’s crunch time for Belgium in World Cup qualifying, and this week could decide how smooth their path to next summer’s finals will be. The Red Devils host North Macedonia on Friday before heading to Wales next week, and Rudi Garcia’s men know two wins would put them firmly in control of their group.
Belgium are coming off back-to-back 6–0 hammerings of Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein, and it feels like they’ve finally found their groove again. Even without Romelu Lukaku leading the line, the goals keep flying in. Jeremy Doku, Malick Fofana, and Youri Tielemans have all stepped up big time, while Kevin De Bruyne looks back to his brilliant best with three goals in those two matches.
Form Guide
Belgium have been absolutely ruthless lately. Two straight 6–0 wins say it all, and they’ve taken their last three home games by a combined score of 13–3. The attack looks sharp, the midfield is oozing creativity, and the defence has tightened up nicely too.
North Macedonia, on the other hand, have been all over the place. They’ve lost three of their last four away qualifiers, each by an average margin of four goals. Their struggles on the road are becoming a real issue, and this trip to Brussels looks like another tough one.
Head-to-Head
When these two met back in March, North Macedonia managed a gutsy 1–1 draw at home thanks to a late strike from Ezgjan Alioski. But things look very different when they travel. Past away trips in qualifiers have been painful – they’ve been smashed 7–0 by England, lost 2–0 to Ukraine, and were beaten 5–2 by Italy.
Belgium’s home advantage and attacking firepower should make this one a much more one-sided affair.
Team News
Belgium are still missing Romelu Lukaku due to injury, but that hasn’t slowed them down at all. Kevin De Bruyne looks happy and in full control, which is always a dangerous sign for the opposition. Garcia has plenty of options with Doku, Tielemans, and Fofana all looking sharp.
Thibaut Courtois remains the rock at the back, providing calm and experience behind a solid defensive unit.
North Macedonia are likely to stick with a defensive setup, hoping to catch Belgium on the counter. But given their recent away record, that might not be enough to stop the Red Devils’ attack.
Prediction
It’s hard to look past Belgium here. They’re flying high, full of confidence, and scoring goals for fun. North Macedonia’s away form is dreadful, and they’ve struggled to keep things tight against top teams.
Predicted Score: Belgium 3–0 North Macedonia
Expect Belgium to dominate possession, create loads of chances, and probably grab another clean sheet.
Players to Watch
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium): Back to his best, pulling strings and chipping in with goals. When he’s smiling, Belgium are dangerous.
Jeremy Doku (Belgium): Electric pace and direct running could cause chaos for Macedonia’s defence.
Ezgjan Alioski (North Macedonia): The heart of his team and capable of magic moments, but he’ll have to work hard just to keep them in the game.
Betting Tips
-
Main Tip: Belgium to win with a -2 handicap
-
Correct Score: Belgium 3–0
-
Anytime Scorer: Kevin De Bruyne
Belgium look set for another comfortable home win. The -2 handicap feels like a solid play considering their recent goal sprees.
Final Thoughts
The Red Devils look unstoppable right now and should have more than enough to take care of business here. With confidence high and De Bruyne pulling the strings, another big home win looks very likely.
North Macedonia will fight, but Belgium’s class should shine through. Expect goals, control, and another statement performance from Rudi Garcia’s men.