Both teams are coming off high-scoring wins in their previous fixtures and will be keen to carry that momentum into this clash.
Key Stats
- Belgium have scored in two of their last three matches.
- Belgium have conceded in two of their last three matches.
- Senegal have scored in their last three matches.
- Senegal have conceded in two of their last three matches.
No Previous Meetings
This will be the first-ever meeting between Belgium and Senegal at this level.
Belgium Coming Alive
Belgium come into this clash off the back of a 5-1 victory over New Zealand in their final group stage fixture. Leandro Trossard netted a brace while Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers were also on target.
Having begun their campaign with two straight draws, that was the first win for Belgium in the competition. It was enough to see them finish top of Group G, and manager Rudi Garcia will be keen to kick on from there.
Belgium finally showed their attacking quality having scored just once in their previous two matches. One area that may need a bit of work is their defence, having failed to keep a clean sheet in two of their three group stage matches.
Teranga Lions Showing Quality
Senegal also scored five times in their final group stage fixture as they eased to a 5-0 victory over Iraq. Pape Gueye grabbed a brace, with Habib Diarra, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr also finding the net.
Similar to the Belgians, that was Senegal's first win at this World Cup, having lost their opening two fixtures. The result was only enough to secure a round of 32 berth as one of the best third-placed teams.
Manager Pape Thiaw will be pleased to see his team keep a clean sheet after conceding six goals across the opening two matches. The Teranga Lions are already sharp in attack, scoring in all three group stage matches.
Team News and Predicted Line-ups
Belgium (4-2-3-1): Thibaut Courtois, Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Arthur Theate, Maxim de Cuyper; Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken; Jeremy Doku, Kevin de Bruyne, Leandro Trossard; Charles de Ketelaere.
Belgium are unlikely to make changes to the team that won against New Zealand, with de Bruyne and Trossard retaining their place in the team. Defender Nathan Ngoy is available following his suspension, but could settle for a place on the bench.
Senegal (4-3-3): Mory Diaw; Krepin Diatta, Abdoulaye Seck, Moussa Niakhate, Ismail Jakobs; Habib Diarra, Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye; Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson, Sadio Mane.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy remains sidelined with a knee injury and should be replaced by Diaw. Iliman Ndiaye could also be handed a start after scoring off the bench last time out.