UEFA Nations
2018-11-18 - Switzerland vs Belgium
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Nations League
Sunday 18th November 2018 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Switzerland
When the draw was first made for this Group in League A I think the majority of people would have expected Switzerland and Belgium to be competing for the Semi Final spot. Both teams have already confirmed their place in League A for the next Nations League in two years time, but Switzerland know they can reach the Semi Final if they are able to beat Belgium when hosting them this Sunday.
That much became this past week when Belgium were only able to beat Iceland 2-0 which means they share the same goal difference with Switzerland and are three points clear in the Group. The Swiss are behind thanks to the 2-1 defeat in Brussels earlier in the Nations League, but any kind of win at home will be enough to edge past Belgium.
Switzerland were surprisingly beaten 0-1 by Qatar last week, but the focus would have already shifted to this game, although that defeat also means they have lost 4 of their last 6 games with the exceptions being the double win over Iceland in this Nations League Group. They have a proud record at home where Switzerland have won 10 of their las 11 competitive games.
Fabian Schar is suspended for this fixture.
Belgium
Roberto Martinez would have been hoping for a bigger win over Iceland on Thursday which could have put Belgium in a commanding position in this Group, but even then I think he can be happy with a three point lead. If you had said to Martinez avoiding defeat in Switzerland would earn Belgium another Semi Final spot in an international competition he would have taken it and that is where Belgium find themselves.
So far Belgium have won all 3 games played in the Nations League and hold the edge over Switzerland courtesy of a 2-1 win over them in Belgium earlier in the Group. Wins over Iceland have come as expected, but the goal difference means a defeat to Switzerland would see Belgium miss out on a top spot finish.
Belgium have only lost 1 of their last 31 games under Roberto Martinez since a defeat in his very first game in charge of the national team. They have won their last 5 away games heading into this one, and Belgium have won 8 straight away games in competitive fixtures since losing 1-0 at Wales in the Euro 2016 Qualifiers.
Romelu Lukaku will be hoping to be passed fit to start this fixture having missed out on the win over Iceland.
Head to Head
Belgium beat Switzerland 2-1 in the UEFA Nations League and they also won 1-2 when they played here in a friendly in 2016.
Belgium have only lost 1 of their last 8 games against Switzerland going back to 1966.
Prediction
This is yet another UEFA Nations League Group that is finishing on a high with everything to play for for both Switzerland and Belgium.
The edge goes to Belgium who have a 3 point lead over Switzerland in the Group and know avoiding defeat will send them through to the Semi Final. It is not a position that Switzerland will be overly comfortable with as they would much prefer for Belgium to need to come forward and to hurt them on the counter attack, but I fear that could be what faces the Swiss instead.
At some point Switzerland will have to come forward and take chances if they are having to chase the win and Belgium have the players to hurt them on the counter attack. Roberto Martinez has led his players to 8 straight away wins too in competitive football and I think Switzerland could be caught out if they overcommit.
You have to have plenty of respect for the Swiss too with 10 wins from their last 11 competitive games which includes beating European Champions Portugal during the World Cup Qualifiers. They could certainly make a game of this, but my feeling is that Belgium can defend well enough to put themselves in a position where Switzerland will have to take chances and that is where the quality of Eden Hazard could exploit gaps and lead Belgium to a fourth win in this Group.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Switzerland 1-2 Belgium
