Best Bet: Lukaku to run riot when Belgium face Panama

With the odds stacked so heavily in Belgium’s favour as they prepare for their Group G opener with World Cup newcomers Panama, there’s very little value whatsoever in looking at the outcome markets for Monday’s match.

With an industry best price of 1.22 on Roberto Martinez’s side to claim three points from Black Type) and multiple bookmakers offering 20.00 on a Panama victory, even the handicap markets won’t really help here. That is unless you think that the underdogs can keep the scoreline respectable in Sochi.

Given Belgium’s outstanding firepower, however, the chances of anything other than a convincing win for the favourites seem remote.

The Red Devils have scored three or more goals in eight of their last twelve matches and while Panama have only conceded once in their last three matches against weak opposition, the last time they faced a fellow World Cup qualifier they lost 6-0 to Switzerland back in March.

There’s no question as to the man that will be looking to fill his boots this afternoon either, with Romelu Lukaku in remarkable form at international level.

The Manchester United striker has scored 13 times in his last nine appearances for his country, only failing to score in a 0-0 draw with Portugal in that time having been withdrawn at half-time. Indeed, when the 25-year-old does feature for the majority of a match he finds the net, with Estonia the only side in eleven - dating back to September 2016 - to keep Lukaku at bay when he has played for more than half a match.

A price of 1.75 from Unibet on the in-form international marksman to find the net is great value then, but my tip would be to be even more bold and back Lukaku to score two or more goals against Panama, with a top price of 4.50 from Spread Ex.