International friendly - preview and odds: Belgium vs. Spain

Published on: 16/11/2015

International friendly - preview and odds: Belgium vs. Spain

November 17, 2015 20:45pm - Wembley Stadium

International friendly

The top-ranked team in World football will line-up against the reigning European champions on Tuesday night as Belgium welcome Spain to the Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels for a friendly match.

Belgium looking to justify No. 1 tag

Belgiums results over the past year have seen them rise to number one in the FIFA world rankings. Since losing 1-0 to Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Belgium have lost just one match in all competitions, including friendlies. Their record in the last 14 games reads W11 D2 L1, with the only defeat coming in the form of a 1-0 reverse to Wales in a Euro 2016 qualifying game back in June.

The Red Devils come in to this match on the back of a 3-1 win over Italy on Friday which extended their current run of victories to five. Belgium last squared up to Spain back in 2009, when they were beaten 5-0 in a World Cup qualifying game and they have not beaten the Iberians since the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico. Spain face stern test after stroll against England

Spain had a few tricky moments in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign but ultimately progressed with ease. Last week, they faced an England side that had the best record out of all the Euro 2016 qualifiers, and passed their test with flying colours. In fact, the Spanish side won the match at a stroll, as England struggled to get their game going.

A spectacular volley from Villarreal right-back Mario Gaspar and a cool finish from Arsenals Santi Cazorla sealed a deserved victory for Vicente del Bosques men. However, La Furia Roja may have to move up a gear or two on Tuesday if they are going to overcome a confident Belgian side in their own backyard.

Team news

Belgium could be without Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard and Gent striker Laurent Depoitre, who both missed training at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Spain will be without Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara who picked up an injury in the clash with England.

Recent form (all comps)

Belgium: WWWWW

Spain: WWWWW

Betting odds and tips

This game is certainly the pick of this weeks friendlies and should prove to be a close contest between two of Europes best teams. Spain are no longer the force they once were, but as they showed against England, they can still produce some mesmerising football and are solid in defence. In fact, they never looked in danger of losing against Roy Hodgsons men. It is worth noting that Spain have not drawn a game of football in over two years.

Belgium are the team to beat right now and in the last year and a half only Wales can boast a victory over the Worlds No.1 football nation. With home advantage, they should have just enough to overcome the Spanish and can be backed at 7/4 with Bet365.

Belgiums last three home games have ended as 3-1 victories (against Italy, Israel and Bosnia-Herzegovina) and you can get 28/1 from Betvictor for a repeat scoreline on Tuesday night.

Published on: 16/11/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (16/11/2015 14:16:36) but are subject to change.