Scotland vs Belarus Prediction for 13 October 2025 - Football

🔊 Scotland are breathing down the neck of Group leaders Denmark. Both teams have accumulated the same number of points over three matches, separated only by goal difference. The Scots have a chance to close this gap in their upcoming game against Belarus. The "White Wings" have suffered two heavy defeats in their three qualifying encounters, and their trip to Hampden Park in Glasgow doesn't promise a turnaround. Will the hosts manage to achieve a comfortable goal difference? We'll provide an insightful prediction in our editorial analysis.

Head-to-Head

📊 The previous encounter between the teams was marked by Scotland's complete dominance. Although it was technically a home match for Belarus, they managed only six shots with an xG value of 0.38, controlling possession for just 27% of the time. The visitors outperformed their opponents fivefold in expected goals and secured a commanding 2-0 victory.

Scotland Team Overview

The "Celts" kicked off 2025 with a missed opportunity to secure a spot in Division A of the Nations League, falling to Greece (1-0; 0-3). However, after this setback, Steve Clarke's team remained unbeaten in official matches. Scotland began their World Cup 2026 qualifiers on a high note with a draw against the group favorite, Denmark. This was followed by a confident win over Belarus (2-0). Finally, they avenged their Nations League loss to Greece. The home game scenario didn't initially favor the Scots. They conceded territorial advantage to the visitors (34% to 66%), nearly halved in shots (5 to 12), and trailed in expected goals (1.09 xG to 2.13 xG). Yet, the "Tartan Army" capitalized on their limited chances perfectly, clinching a 3-1 victory.

Scotland boasts a formidable midfield composed of Serie A and Premier League talents. The standout player in the match against Greece was Bologna's midfielder Lewis Ferguson. He dominated the center of the pitch, committing five fouls in 90 minutes to stifle opponent attacks and successfully launch his own. One of these led to a goal. Ryan Christie from Bournemouth also found the back of the net. Despite being a nominal midfielder, Steve Clarke deploys him as a winger for the national team. From the flank, Christie consistently troubled Greek defenders with his dribbling skills. He completed 2 out of 2 successful dribbles, leading both teams in this category.

Belarus Team Overview

The Belarus national team struggled to compete in a group featuring Denmark, Scotland, and Greece, having already lost to all their opponents. The results were entirely predictable. Over three matches, Carlos Alos' squad accumulated just 1.75 xG and held an average of only 29% possession. The quality of their performances, from the Greeks to the Danes, consistently declined. The low point was a crushing defeat against Denmark. The match could have ended after the first half, with the "White Wings" conceding four goals. After the break, the visitors were merely going through the motions and even in this mode, the scoreline became embarrassing – 6-0.

Arguably, the most active player for Belarus was Herman Barkovskiy. The forward from Polish club Piast Gliwice joined the national team in good form, having scored his debut goal for his new club in his last match. Against Denmark, he didn't showcase much creativity but proved to be a real nuisance for the Danish defenders, winning 13 duels.

Latest news

Scotland

🎙 Scotland's head coach shared his thoughts on the victory over Greece. "From a defensive standpoint, it was a tough evening for us as the Greeks had excellent ball possession. They were quick in their movements and passing speed. We lacked high pressing. But the shackles fell off when they scored — and that happened thanks to the determination within the team to ensure this night at Hampden wouldn't be another disappointment. Sometimes in football, you don't get what you deserve, and sometimes you get a bit more than you deserve, but don't underestimate the work the players put in," said Steve Clarke.

❌ Aaron Hickey couldn't finish the match against the Greeks. The 23-year-old Brentford defender started the season on the bench for his club but worked his way into the starting lineup, appearing in the last two Premier League rounds. Steve Clarke has trusted him in the national team for quite some time. However, another match he started ended in the 58th minute due to injury.

Belarus

🎙 The head coach of the Belarus national team shared his thoughts on their defeat against Denmark. "It was a tough match and a disappointing result for us. We can't be satisfied with the outcome, but I can't fault my players either. I'm currently frustrated because this defeat prevents us from achieving our objective," said Carlos Alos.

❌ Sergey Politevich will miss another training camp. The defender tore his ACL at the end of August and will be unavailable for a considerable time.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The match will be officiated by Marian Barbu from Romania. In his last 20 matches in the local league, he averages 3.7 yellow cards per game. The Belarusian team has been consistent in terms of fouls during the current qualifiers, receiving two yellow cards in each of their three matches. In their previous game, they were aggressive from the front line, leading to Herman Barkovsky being booked. With such pressing, we anticipate Belarus will receive more than 1.5 yellow cards.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Belarus head coach Carlos Alos continues to experiment with formations, having used a 3-4-3 against Denmark. This marks the third different setup in the qualifiers. However, none have yielded significant success, as the number of goals conceded by the "White Wings" keeps rising. The Scots displayed impressive finishing against Greece and are only separated from the top spot by goal difference. To close that gap, they need to score heavily against the group's underdogs. Our prediction: total goals over 2.5.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Despite limited possession, Belarus effectively utilizes set-piece opportunities near the opponent's goal. In 8 of their last 9 matches, they've taken more than 2.5 corners. The exception was their first encounter with Scotland. The British side, known for their expertise in this area, will likely find ways to limit Belarus's advances down the flanks on their home turf. Editorial choice: Belarus total corners under 2.5.

Before the qualifiers began, experts predicted Scotland would finish only third in their group, with the "Celts" rated below the Greeks due to recent performances. However, following a hard-fought draw with Denmark and an equally impressive victory over Greece, the dynamics have shifted dramatically. Steve Clarke has primarily succeeded in solidifying the defense, and with a formidable midfield led by Scott McTominay, opponents find it tough to break through. Given these circumstances, it's hard to imagine Belarus, who already struggle offensively, especially at Hampden Park, scoring a goal. We anticipate another rout of the Belarusian team, perhaps with a scoreline of 3-0, and we don't expect the visitors to find the net at all. Our bet: both teams to score (no).