Belgium vs Romania Predictions

• Belgium had won 10 and drawn five of their 15 games prior to Monday’s unlucky defeat to Slovakia
• Romania have lost their last four matches against FIFA-ranked top-16 nations
• Leandro Trossard has scored four goals in his last eight appearances (six starts) for Belgium

Red Devils can reassert themselves against Romania

Belgium can restate their Euro 2024-winning credentials with an emphatic win over Romania in Group E on Saturday.

The Red Devils’ 1-0 defeat to Slovakia on Monday was the least fair result of the tournament so far, according to expected goals which calculated Belgium’s quality of chances created to be around three times that of their opponents.

Domenico Tedesco’s team had 16 unsuccessful shots in the game and conceded the only goal when Jeremy Doku’s awful pass into his own penalty area was collected by Ivan Schranz, who after backheeling it to Juraj Kucka and seeing his ensuing shot saved by Koen Casteels, slammed home the rebound from a tight angle.

Tricolorii will be tested on crosses

Romania created more in attack than a nervy Ukraine and although the 3-0 scoreline in their favour was more than a little flattering, they at least looked clinical when the chances came their way.

Tricolorii will relish the underdog role again in this clash, although they may find the Belgians more threatening than Ukraine from wide areas.

Serhiy Rebrov’s side finished with a 0% cross accuracy from 21 attempted balls into the Romanian box and their best opportunities were passed up once the result had been left beyond doubt.

Lunin’s lax work was costly

They may not have lost at all if Andriy Lunin had been able to reproduce his Real Madrid form, but two errors from the young goalkeeper put them in a hole they could not climb out of.

That said, Romania’s number one was hardly busy and they have now recorded clean sheets in seven of their last 10 matches.

Lightning did strike more than once during Belgium’s last tournament appearance in Qatar when they crashed out at the group stage after missing big chances against Canada, Morocco and Croatia.

Tedesco’s team can make it comfortable

But the smart money has to be on a team with creators like Kevin De Bruyne and forwards like Romelu Lukaku and Leandro Trossard to get it done.

The Red Devils have won three of their last six matches with at least a goal to spare and could even replicate the 3-0 result they got against Luxembourg in a recent friendly.

Romania failed to score in their two final tournament warm-up matches and might struggle to find the back of the net here unless they receive more help from the opposition defence and goalkeeper.