On Saturday afternoon, Azerbaijan hosts Belgium in Group F of qualifying for Euro 2024 as the visitors look to return to the top of the group table.
As expected, the home team have proven the weakest team in Group F of qualifying, as they currently sit bottom of the standings, having taken just a point from their opening three qualifiers.
Back on the pitch. 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/weqB42U0h2— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) September 5, 2023
Back on the pitch. 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/weqB42U0h2
A 1-1 draw against Estonia last time out at least ended a two-game losing run in Group F and a five-game losing run in qualifying dating back to the last campaign.
However, the draw also means Azerbaijan is now winless in their previous 16 qualifiers.
Azerbaijan are now winless in seven games in European Championship qualifiers on home soil, having picked up just three draws and suffered four defeats.
The biggest reason for that poor recent home form in qualifying may be their leaky defence, as the home team has kept just two clean sheets in their previous 14 qualifiers on home soil.
The Red Devils currently sit in second place in Group F, although they do have a game in hand on group leaders Austria, who they trail by three points in the fight for group supremacy.
Roberto Martinez’s team heads into this encounter on the back of a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
A key to that recent stellar form is their attacking prowess, as the visitors have scored three goals in three of their last four matches.
Belgium also has an excellent recent record in European Championship qualifiers, as they are 17 games unbeaten in qualifying, having recorded 16 wins and a draw.
The Red Devils have been in particularly good form on their travels in qualifying, having recorded nine straight away wins in the European Championships qualifiers.
Forebet predicts that Belgium will record a victory in a low-scoring encounter to retake control of Group F.