Belgium vs Slovakia Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

The European Championships are finally here, as is Tom Winch’s Belgium vs Slovakia prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures Euro 2024 preview. There are so many intriguing matches across the group stages. Belgium take on Slovakia in Frankfurt in a game where the Red Devils are likely to win.

Here at Bettingexpert, we’ve taken a closer look at the two nations and have selected two bets for the clash. Will the favourites struggle, or will their attacking qualities prove the difference?

• Belgium vs Slovakia Tip 1: Belgium & Under 4.5 Goals
• Belgium vs Slovakia Tip 2: Romelu Lukaku AGS

Belgium vs Slovakia Prediction 1: A Professional Performance

Euro 2024, Monday, June 17th, 17:00 (UK)

Domenico Tedesco’s Belgium face Slovakia at Deutsche Bank Park on Monday evening. Francesco Calzona and his men have an almighty opening encounter in Frankfurt as they take on The Red Devils. Belgium (17.0) is ranked 7th favourites in the outright market. The Slovaks arrive as the biggest outsiders at 501.0, a significant mismatch in Group E.

The Belgium squad is excellent. They have an abundance of attacking talent. Johan Bakayoko, Leandro Trossard, Lois Openda and Romelu Lukaku are some, to name a few. This nation can score relatively easily, especially when a certain Kevin De Bruyne lurks. 

Getting Belgium onside seems the sensible angle to attack. They won all three group matches in 2020. They can be vulnerable in defence, especially against the leading nations. At the time of writing, The Red Devils are priced at 1.48 to win. 

Slovakia are not likely to shine in Euro 2024. Calzona’s men are underdogs in Group E. I find that hard to disagree with. I expect them to sit deep and soak up the pressure in this encounter. 

Despite qualifying for this tournament, their recent results fail to provide much inspiration. Slovakia scored just once across two meetings with Luxembourg. They only beat Liechtenstein 1-0. They lost both clashes against Portugal, recording five shots on target in total.

I’ve highlighted that they lack offensive firepower in my Group E Preview. That could be their downfall in Germany. Slovakia is a chunky price to claim a shock victory here at 7.00 and 1.66 to find the back of the net. But one I’m happy to steer away from.

The pressure is firmly on Belgium. The Red Devils are likely to have a successful campaign. Opening matches in major tournaments tend to be relatively low-scoring, with neither side wanting to taste defeat. 

I expect Belgium to have enough to overcome Calzona’s side. The favourites will be relentless in attack with the players at their disposal. I struggle to see this fixture provide a goal fest but more of a professional performance. Slovakia will not make it easy. We can be sure of that.

• Belgium vs Slovakia Prediction 1: Belgium & Under 4.5 Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.83
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 4/10

Belgium vs Slovakia Prediction 2: Belgium’s Finest Goalscorer

Romelu Lukaku has an emphatic scoring record for Belgium. The former Chelsea, Everton and Man United man has found the back of the net 83 times for his country, more than any other player. I expect him to play a vital part in Belgium’s success if they are to have any.

Lukaku scored four times at Euro 2020. The 31-year-old bagged a brace in the opening encounter. The forward has every chance of finding the back of the net against Slovakia. There’s plenty of talent across either flank who’ll be feeding their man throughout the entirety of this clash. I’m certain Romelu will be on penalty duties. That’s always a bonus.

There are no markets available at the current time of writing, but I’m confident we’ll see a decent price on offer in the next few days. Belgium are priced at 1.57 to score twice here and 2.75 to find the back of the net three times. He’s a phenomenal scorer internationally. Anything priced at 1.85 and above provides value. Let’s hope some bookmakers price him up even higher.

Euro Qualification? Yeah, Lukaku made lightwork of that. Belgium’s star bagged a terrific 14 goals, four more than Ronaldo, five more than Mbappe and six more than England’s Harry Kane.

The Top Scorer Outrights are interesting. Lukaku is ranked joint 4th alongside Jude Bellingham. It’s that familiar trio again. Mbappe, Kane and Ronaldo are the leading contenders. Belgium will score goals in this competition. Their number one striker will be heavily amongst the offensive action.

Following on from the outrights, Lukaku is priced at 1.57 to score three or more and 1.90 to score the most goals for Belgium. Everything points towards a successful campaign. Romelu will be confident that he can push that tally of 83 towards the 90 mark.

• Belgium vs Slovakia Prediction 2: Romelu Lukaku AGS (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: Awaiting Odds
• Bookmaker: Awaiting Odds
• Stake: 2/10

Belgium vs Slovakia Prediction odds via bet365 as at 13:00, June 3rd, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Belgium vs Slovakia Team News and Possible Lineups: Contrasting Styles

Belgium’s squad gets progressively more impressive the further up the pitch. Tedesco has the tricky task of picking between Doku, Bakayoko, Lukaku, Openda, Lukebakio, Carrasco, Trossard and CDK in attack. It’s a positive problem to have.

If this Belgium side can click, then they could be an entertaining watch. The defence and midfield are solid. That’s as far as I’d go. 

This opening encounter is all about defending. Slovakia will be desperate to earn a point. It’s a mismatch in terms of squad depth and quality. 

Their defence is arguably their best of the three positions. Calzona will set up with a 4-3-3 formation. They’ll look to exploit Belgium on the counterattack.

Belgium possible starting lineup:
Selz; Castagne, Vertonghen, Faes, Theate, Onana, Tielemans, De Bruyne, Trossard, Doku; Lukaku

Slovakia possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko, Kucka, Lobotka, Duda, Haraslin, Schranz; Bozenik

Euro 2024 Match Stats: All Eyes On Romelu

• BTTS – Yes has landed in all three meetings between these nations.
• Romelu Lukaku has scored 83 times for Belgium, that’s more than any other player.
• Belgium haven’t tasted defeat since Morocco beat them 2-0 in the World Cup. 
• Slovakia’s previous Euro encounter was against Spain, they were smashed 5-0.

Belgium Group E Euro 2024 Fixtures: Clashes Get Progressively Trickier

• Vs Slovakia (N)
• Vs Romania (N)
• Vs Ukraine (N)

Slovakia Group E Euro 2024 Fixtures: It’s Tough But We Can’t Write Them Off

• Vs Belgium (N)
• Vs Ukraine (N)
• Vs Romania (N)

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