UEFA Euro Qualifiers: Austria vs Belgium Odds Analysis
Win For Either Side Clinches Euro 2024 Berth
Group F’s Top Two Clash
Barring catastrophe, it looks like both Austria and Belgium will qualify out of Group F to make Euro 2024. They’re both on 13 points, seven points ahead of third-placed Sweden with three games to go. So, the winner of Friday’s match between Austria and Belgium will qualify automatically. Both teams heading into this one are unbeaten and will want to keep things that way. Ahead of Friday’s crucial match, let’s check out the Austria vs Belgium odds.
⚽ Austria vs Belgium ⚽
Date & Time: Location: Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria
Head-to-Head:
Recently, a draw has been a great pick to bet on soccer in this fixturebet on soccer in this fixture recently. Four of the last five matches between Austria and Belgium have finished in draws, including June’s 1-1 result. Michael Gregoritsch opened up the scoring for Austria in Brussels, while Romelu Lukaku equalized for the hosts. Notably, Belgium is unbeaten in the last six meetings of this fixture and last lost in 1959.
Austria Resurgent Under Rangnick
Austria are well on their way to their third straight European championship. They’ve completed the double over Sweden, including a 3-1 road win in September. They’re in second place in the Group F UEFA Euro qualifiers standings, with a 4-1-0 record. Now, Austria needs just three points from their last three matches to seal qualification. Following the match vs. Belgium, Ralf Rangnick’s side has winnable games vs. Azerbaijan and Estonia.
Heading into Friday’s match, Austria is unbeaten in all competitions in their last eight games. Michael Gregoritsch and Christoph Baumgartner lead the Burschen with three goals apiece in qualifiers. Marko Arnautovic scored twice in the 3-1 win over Sweden last month, but the Inter Milan forward is out injured for this match.
Six-foot, seven-inch striker Sasa Kalajdzic has concurrently returned from a long-term injury and will be an intriguing option. Austria’s midfield is undoubtedly the deepest part of their team. Baumgartner, Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, Marcel Sabitzer, Florian Grillitsch and Konrad Laimer are all excellent options for Rangnick to deploy. Plus, Austria has Real Madrid’s David Alaba in the heart of defense. Despite their good form, the Austria vs Belgium odds price the hosts as +180 underdogs.
Lukaku Starring for Belgium
Since drawing 1-1 vs. Austria in June, Belgium has won their last three UEFA Euro qualifiers. In all three of those wins, Belgium managed to keep shutouts. Striker Romelu Lukaku has been in great form, with four goals in his last three games. In fact, Lukaku is the leading scorer in the UEFA Euro qualifiers stats, with eight goals in just five games. The Roma striker also got on the scoresheet twice in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Cagliari.
In September, Belgium got a 1-0 win at Azerbaijan as Yannick Carrasco scored the game’s only goal. A few days later, Belgium returned home and destroyed Estonia 5-0 as Lukaku scored twice. Two of Belgium’s key players continue to be out injured, though. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois tore his ACL in August and is set for an extended spell on the sidelines. Belgium’s captain, Kevin de Bruyne, is also out for the next month.
Regardless, Belgium has scored 13 goals in five games and conceded just one so far in qualifiers. Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels has filled in for Courtois and done a fine job. The backline of Arthur Theate, Jan Vertonghen, Wout Faes, and Timothy Castagne has started three straight matches and kept three clean sheets.
Match Analysis & Odds
Friday’s match is expected to be a close one, as most of the recent Austria vs Belgium games have been. The Austria vs Belgium odds price the hosts as +180 underdogs, and Austria pk comes in at -110 odds. Belgium is +155 favorites, with a 39.2 percent implied chance of victory, and Belgium pk displays +120 odds.
Romelu Lukaku was on the scoresheet last time out vs. Austria, and he’ll be a handful once again. Four of the last five head-to-head matchups have finished in draws, and another draw is priced at +235 odds. Without Kevin de Bruyne in Belgium’s midfield, Austria can certainly gain a foothold in the game.
It’ll be a blow for Austria not to have Marko Arnautovic, but both teams have averaged well over two goals per game so far. Here, under 2.5 goals sit at -125 odds, though.
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