UEFA Netherlands vs Belgium Odds: Soccer Betting Preview

Another Edition of the Low Countries Derby

Hope Still Alive for Belgium

It’s a high stakes Low Countries Derby on Sunday with first place in UEFA Nations League Group 4 on the line. Belgium have a lot of work to do to finish first but they’re theoretically still alive. They’ll need to win by four goals vs the Netherlands on Sunday to advance due to the tiebreaker rules. That’ll be a huge challenge to do on the road but it could make for an exciting match. Let’s check out the UEFA Netherlands vs Belgium odds and preview Sunday’s game.

UEFA Nations League – Netherlands vs Belgium Game Info:

  • Location: Johan Cryuff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Date & Time: Sunday, September 25, 2:45 P.M. EST

Head-to-Head

In June, The Netherlands managed their biggest win over Belgium since 1981 and defied the UEFA Netherlands vs Belgium Odds. The Oranje, who were +220 underdogs, thrashed Belgium 4-1 and led 4-0 until Michy Batshuayi’s 90th minute consolation goal. All-time, the Netherlands lead the series 56-41. Recently, there have been a lot of draws in this fixture. Six of the last nine meetings have finished in draws, along with two of the last three. So, the Netherlands are unbeaten in this fixture in the last ten years, with a win and two draws.

Netherlands Resurgent Under Van Gaal

  • UEFA Nations League Standings: 4-0-1, 1st (Group 4)

A quick look at the UEFA Nations League groups shows that the Netherlands have the best record in the competition. They’re still unbeaten and are the only team with four wins through five matches. It’s coach Louis Van Gaal’s third spell as national team boss and it’s been his best by far. Through 14 matches, he has amassed 10 wins and four draws. His Netherlands completed a perfect away record in the Nations League with Thursday’s 2-0 win over Poland.

PSV’s Cody Gakpo opened up the scoring in the 13th minute and Steven Bergwijn sealed the deal in the second half. Bergwijn has been in the form of his life since joining Ajax over the Summer. The winger has six goals in seven Eredivisie matches and found the scoresheet again on Thursday.  Despite the good performance, Van Gaal will have injury concerns heading into Sunday.

Both forward Memphis Depay and Steven Berghuis are unlikely to play. Midfielder Teun Koopmeiners was substituted early on in Thursday’s match after a collision but early signs indicate he’s ok. Vincent Janssen is likely to take Depay’s place in the starting eleven.

In the 2-0 win, 38-year old goalkeeper Remko Pasveer made his national team debut. He didn’t have much to do but he’s responsible for the Netherlands’ first shutout of the competition. With Virgil van Dijk, Jurrien Timber and Nathan Ake in defense, the Dutch looked very solid. That’s even with world class talent Matthijs de Ligt on the bench.

Belgium Need to Score Early and Often

  • UEFA Nations League Standings: 3-1-1, 2nd (Group 4)

French legend Thierry Henry will coach Belgium for the first time on Sunday in head coach Roberto Martinez’s absence. Martinez is suspended after getting sent off vs Wales and Henry, Martinez’s assistant, has his work cut out for him. Even with a 2-1 win vs Wales on Thursday, Belgium need at least four goals to move on because they lost 4-1 to the Netherlands in June.

This Belgium team is certainly capable of scoring goals. They put six goals on Poland in UEFA Nations League soccer in June and may need that many on Sunday. With Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard, the Red Devils have two top tier creators. Michy Batshuayi has also scored in his last two matches for Belgium. They’ll need him to be in top form with Romelu Lukaku out with an injury.

Belgium are good in all areas of the pitch but midfield is where they shine the most. It’s hard to argue that De Bruyne isn’t the best player on either team. Belgium also have Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel, Thomas Meunier and Yannick Carrasco to call on. Midfield goal contributions will certainly be needed on Sunday to get over the line. De Bruyne scored and assisted on Thursday and has 25 goals in his Red Devils career.

Odds & Preview

The UEFA Netherlands vs Belgium odds price the home side Netherlands at +110 odds to win; however, they haven’t managed consecutive wins vs Belgium since 1996 and 1997. With six draws in the last nine, another draw is priced at +240 odds. Belgium figure to have an uphill battle just to win, let alone score four, and show +200 odds. The good news for Belgium is that they’ve scored in their last eight matches vs the Netherlands.

With the impetus on Belgium to score a bunch of goals, this could be a wide open match. Expect Belgium to be vulnerable to counter attacks as they commit a several players forward. Over 2½ goals sits at -140 odds and it’s hard to see those odds getting any longer before Sunday’s match.

Favorites Netherlands will go through unless they lose by a four goal margin. They might take some solace in the fact that they haven’t lost to Belgium by four or more goals since 1961. Don’t put it past Van Gaal to set up the defensive tactically. Of course they’ll want to win this derby match vs their rivals but the Dutch could decide to be practical. With one foot into the Nations League semifinals, all they need to do is avoid their biggest defeat since losing 4-0 to France in 2017. Perhaps easier said than done, though.

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