Belgium vs Senegal Predictions

• Belgium have scored two or more goals in five of their last nine competitive matches
• Senegal have conceded at least two goals in three of their last five games
• Ismaila Sarr has scored three goals in his last two appearances for Senegal

Five-star wins seal progession for Seattle rivals

Two teams that rounded off the group stage with five-goal victories clash at Lumen Field, Seattle, in the World Cup’s round of 32 on Wednesday. Belgium secured top spot in Group G thanks to their 5-1 win over New Zealand on matchday three, which ensured they finished two goals clear of Egypt in second.

The Red Devils finally found their shooting boots after a couple of frustrating outings against the Pharaoahs and Iran, but they remain unbeaten and appear to be growing in confidence. The same is not true of Senegal, who scraped through in third place in Group I after thrashing Iraq 5-0 in their last game.

The Lions of Teranga laboured against 10 men for most of the first half of that game, but finally boosted their goal difference enough to claim one of the eight knockout places for third-place finishers.

Veteran star frozen out by Thiaw 

Coach Pape Thiaw has been criticised back home for sticking with his trusted veteran players like Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly, but the Al-Hilal defender was benched for the Iraq game after a nightmare showing against Norway.

Idrissa Gana Gueye was restored to the midfield and led the way in that group finale while Mane was later praised by his coach for an influential display. He created four goalscoring chances, but that was against a demoralised and depleted side heading for the exit door. Doing it against a Belgium side with a solid defence in front of a world-class goalkeeper will be something else.

Thiaw was forced into a change in goal against Iraq after Eduard Mendy was injured and seven-cap Le Havre custodian Mory Diaw could be needed again on Wednesday.  The back-up was hardly tested but from his record in Ligue 1 with Le Havre and reputation, this game looks like being a tough one for him to handle behind a reshuffled defence.

Red Devils have major goal potential

Belgium have multiple attacking threats with Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard in good form out wide while Kevin De Bruyne floats into space behind Charles De Ketelaere up front. And with the likes of Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Romelu Lukaku in reserve, they have enough firepower to score at least two in Seattle.

That said, Ismaila Sarr might actually be a more reliable goalscorer than all of them at the moment after he bagged three goals in his last two for Senegal. The Crystal Palace ace is a big-game player who tends to score when it matters most.