Austria vs Belgium tips and predictions: Group leaders to battle out goalscoring draw in Vienna
- Sergiu Baltuta
- 12 October 2023
Austria will take on Belgium at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Wien on Friday night, in a game between the best teams of Group F (1945 BST).
Austria, who haven't lost in five home games, are all but nailed on to be going to the Euros, after some good performances in their first five games.
Former Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick is doing an excellent job for the red and white, and Austria are close to insuring their presence at the finals in Germany.
Belgium top the group on goal difference over Austria and only dropped points against Friday's rivals back in June during a 1-1 draw. So qualification for Domenico Tedesco looks safe too.
Austria have impressed in the qualifiers; winning both games against Sweden, their main rivals for the second place in the group. Rangnick is inches away from booking Austria their third consecutive European final tournament.
A win for either side on Friday night will cement their place in the Euro 2024.
Austria will have to do without the injured Inter striker Marko Arnautovic, who scored twice in the crucial 3-1 away over Sweden in September.
Belgium have always been considered as the main favourite of group F, and so far The Red Devils have confirmed that status, brushing aside Estonia 5-0 in their last outing, with Romelu Lukaku netting twice.
The Roma hitman is expected to lead the line again, in a side that is missing star names Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Leandro Trossard.
Four of the last five games between Austria and Belgium have ended in a draw and we are leaning towards another goalscoring lvel pegger again. It was 1979 the last time these sides played out a 0-0 stalemate.
With seven in eight for Roma this season already, Lukaku will continue his form in front of goal too.
