IF Alex McLeish was hoping to boost confidence for Scotland's Nations League opener on Monday then he's picked the wrong opponents.
Belgium head to Hampden for a friendly tonight and it looks a damage limitation job for Scots boss McLeish ahead of his first competitive fixture.
Result
Belgium finished third at the World Cup this summer and of that star-packed squad only the injured Kevin de Bruyne, Christian Benteke and Marouane Fellaini are absent tonight. So with the likes of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Yannick Carrasco to call upon there's a gulf in class between the teams.
Andy Robertson will skipper the Scots for the first time and is one of the few top-class players in McLeish's line-up. Scotland have lost four of their last five friendlies and look destined for another defeat tonight.
Both teams to score – No
Scotland aren't exactly prolific – they've drawn a blank in four of five friendlies and rather than going all guns blazing they're likely to sit deep and keep it tight against a Belgium side who can exploit any gaps they leave.
A narrow defeat wouldn't be a disaster for McLeish and his team and I'm backing the Belgians to keep a clean sheet.
To score in both halves
As mentioned above, the Red Devils are front-loaded with quality players and can get the better of the Scotland backline either side of half-time. John Souttar is set to start at centre-half for the Scots and while the Hearts defender is full of potential, his lack of experience could be cruelly exposed by Lukaku and Co.
Corners
Of Belgium's seven games in Russia this summer, only one had less than eight corners. Scotland on home soil should contribute a few tonight so it's worth taking over 7 match corners to round off the Bet Builder.
Bet Builder Tip
- Belgium win
- Both teams to score – No
- Belgium to score in each half
- Over 7 match corners
- (13-2, bet365)
