Euro 2024: Ukraine vs Belgium tips and predictions – Romelu Lukaku targets breakthrough in key game

From the lows of defeat to the highs of victory, both Ukraine and Belgium have experienced more emotions than a 12-year-old girl at a Taylor Swift concert. Having watched the show with my niece, believe me – I know what I’m talking about.

There will be plenty more emotions on show in Stuttgart as Ukraine and Belgium vie for a spot in the Last-16 stage.

The Red Devils enter this fixture as slight favourites according to the bookmakers. Domenico Tedesco’s side come into the match after enduring a shock 1-0 defeat to Slovakia and but they recovered with a solid 2-0 success over Romania.

Belgium have a lot of star power among their ranks, including Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku.

Quality has not been an issue for Belgium over the years. The real problem has been stringing all that talent into one cohesive unit.

Euro 2024 offer: Bet £10 pre-match, Get a £5 free bet if both teams score 1st half 

Ukraine have got a similar dilemma. Serhiy Rebrov has a plethora of talent at his disposal from Andriy Lunin and Mykhailo Mudryk to Oleksandr Zinchenko and Artem Dovbyk.

Trouble is, the Ukrainians kicked off the tournament with a shock 3-0 defeat and are now fighting to get back on track.

Their 2-1 win over Slovakia was certainly a step in the right direction and if Ukraine can replicate that performance, expect Wednesday’s clash with Belgium to be a close one.

We’re backing both teams to get onto the scoresheet and the match to be won by a margin of one goal.

Incredibly, Romelu Lukaku is yet to get on the scoresheet at the tournament. But with the amount of chances coming his way, that is bound to change at some point. With that in mind, back the big forward to get among the goals.

 

Team news

Ukraine head into the match with a fully fit squad at their disposal.

Axel Witsel and Thomas Meunier are both doubts for Belgium, while Dodi Lukebakio serves a suspension.

 

Key stats

- Just three of Belgium’s last 14 European Championship games have seen both teams score

- Romelu Lukaku has scored four goals in three games against Ukrainian opposition at club level

- Belgium have lost one of their last 17 international matches

- Ukraine have kept one clean sheet from their last four matches

 

Suggested bets

Both teams to score

One goal winning margin

Romelu Lukaku to score anytime