SportsMall previews Tuesday's Nations League clash between Belarus and Luxembourg, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Up and down after the two goalless draws at the weekend League C Group 3 will meet on Tuesday Belarus to deal with Luxembourg In UEFA Nations League.
The 'home' side – currently playing their games behind closed doors in Hungary – are halfway through a promotion spot; Meanwhile, their visitors have just one point in the group and are yet to score a goal.
Competition preview
© Imago
Belarus held to a tense 0-0 draw against Northern Ireland on Saturday night to stay a point clear of their opponents in the Group 3 table and therefore look set to finish in the top-two next month.
A young goalkeeper Fedor Labukov During the first half in Zalaegerszeg, the Dinamo Minsk man was forced into a string of sharp saves as he made four crucial stops. Michael O'NeillMen in the Gulf.
With five points from three games so far, Belarus have already improved on their performance in the last Nations League, during which they failed to win and finished bottom of their group behind Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Slovakia.
Extending their wait for a first major final, the White Wings then failed to qualify for Euro 2024 – three points shy of a play-off spot – but they are now halfway to promotion to League B.
Spanish coach Carlos AlozHe took charge in late 2023 and Belarus beat Luxembourg 1-0 last month, shortly after holding Bulgaria to a goalless draw in their opening match.
continuously Valery GromykoA late winner on that occasion, they have won three previous Nations League matches against Tuesday's opposition without scoring a single goal.
© Imago
Luxembourg have been one of Europe's most improved minnows over the past few years, steadily climbing up the FIFA world rankings, but they have beaten Belarus just once in six meetings since 2015.
Les Lions Rouges reached the Euro 2024 playoff semi-finals after recording a national record 17 points from 10 qualifiers, but that progress stalled in the 2024-25 Nations League.
A team still overseen by a long-serving coach Luke Holtz Didn't produce a point or a goal last month and were in distinct danger of relegation to League D.
Another lackluster display in Bulgaria on Saturday evening – when they failed to register a shot on target – at least kept Luxembourg in Group 3, but a 0-0 draw. Leaving them last on the table Three points behind third-placed Northern Ireland.
The return of the all-time top scorer Gerson RodriguezA substitute appearance in Plovdiv will give them hope that they can finally score; However, Holtz highlighted his star striker's lack of fitness since his move to the Chinese second division.
Belarus Nations League Format:
Belarus Format (All Matches):
Luxembourg Nations League Format:
Luxembourg form (all competitions):
Group messages
© Imago
Carlos Allos will have to rely on the two forwards Dmitry Antilevsky And Yevgeny Shikavka Despite not finding the net in three Nations League games so far, especially as a fellow forward Evan Bucker He is out of this month's camp due to injury.
Astana midfielder Max Epong Belarus are ready for action in the engine room, while 21-year-old goalkeeper Fyodor Lapukov will win his fifth senior cap after a brave resistance against Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, Luxembourg boss Luc Holtz will have to weigh up whether to start Gerson Rodrigues, who was recalled following a disciplinary issue during last month's international.
While the traveling striker was restricted to a cameo at the weekend, Daniel Sinani And Alessio Curci were paired in front; However, Les Lions Rouges did not attempt the goal.
Elsewhere, Vincent Dil And Yuvandro Borges Both have been sidelined by injury Olivier Dill And Lars Gerson 26 of the visitors were left out of the squad.
Belarus Probable Starting Lineup:
Lapoukhov; Volkov, Politsevich, Jabelin; Karbovich, Yablonsky, Epong, Piazenin; Antilevsky, Shikavka, Kantsevoi
Luxembourg Possible starting line-up:
life; Korak, Carlson, Johns; C. Martins; Bohnert, Pinto, Barreiro, Olesen; Chinani, Rodriguez
We say: Belarus 1-1 Luxembourg
With both teams having managed just one goal at the midway point of their Group 3 campaign, a low-scoring encounter is certainly a possibility.
Luxembourg lack confidence in the final three, while Belarus will be hard to break down, so the points will be shared in an empty ZTE Arena.
Please click here for data analysis of most probable results, scores and more for this match.
