Netherlands vs Belgium prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League A betting tips on match 2022-09-24 18:45.
The foundations are set for an enthralling Low Countries Derby encounter between the only two sides that can possibly reach the finals from UEFA Nations League (UNL) Group A4, the Netherlands and Belgium. Louis van Gaal’s Dutch side simply need to avoid defeat by a margin of three or more goals to book their place at the UNL finals in June 2023, so even one Netherlands goal could potentially put qualification beyond the reach of Belgium, who would then need at least four goals.
Now unbeaten in 14 internationals, their best run since a 17-game streak between 2012-13, the Oranje return to Amsterdam in fine fettle. A sustained onslaught may be expected from the Netherlands, as they’ve scored in eight of the ten respective halves across the opening five UNL rounds, although it’s beyond half-time that the Dutch often fly, scoring an impressive nine second-half goals in this UNL campaign, accounting for 69% of their total haul.
A hard-fought 2-1 win over Wales set up this straight shootout for qualification, but the H2H tiebreaker could be Belgium's undoing as a 4-1 drubbing in the reverse has potentially left Roberto MartĂnez’s side with too much to do. To put the enormity of their task into perspective, Belgium have not recorded a winning scoreline that would see them qualify here in any H2H since a 4-0 win in 1961!
Only once have Belgium recorded a three-goal margin in victory in a UNL away group encounter too, which came in their very first such game against Iceland back in 2018 (3-0). The Red Devils can at least boast a strong travelling record in UNL groups (W4, D1, L2), yet their recent negative equity in away games against FIFA top-10 ranked nations, despite getting on the scoresheet in four games, suggests that this will be tough (W2, L3).
Players to watch: Cody Gakpo made it eight goals from his last seven games for club & country with his opener vs Poland last time out, which served as his third goal in just eight Netherlands caps! Trying to match him will be the creative Kevin De Bruyne, but while the Manchester City and Belgium star assisted in eight of his last 11 matches, he is yet to make a goal contribution in a Low Countries Derby (W1, D1, L1).
Hot stat: Netherlands are unbeaten in 14 of the 17 all-time competitive Low Countries Derby encounters (W10, D4, L3).