Spain vs Belgium Betting Tips: Another Spanish clean sheet?

Spain required a late winner from Arsenal’s Mikel Merino to get past Portugal in the last 16, while Belgium hammered co-hosts USA to reach the last eight. 

These two meet in Los Angeles on Friday (12pm local time, 8pm BST, BBC One), with Spain big favourites to progress to the final four, but Belgium have progressed nicely to this stage. Read on for my Spain vs Belgium Prediction.

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Team News

Luis de la Fuente didn’t see his Spain side at their sparkling best against Portugal, so it will be interesting to see whether he sticks with the same XI. Merino scored off the bench but is unlikely to start, with Rodri and Pedri the first-choice pairing. 

Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena are likely to keep their place behind Mikel Oyarzabal. Ferran Torres, if booked, will miss the potential semi-final through suspension.

Belgium boss Rudi Garcia made the big call to leave Romelu Lukaku out of the starting XI and Kevin De Bruyne on the bench for the entirety of the win over USA. De Bruyne is likely to come in given Amadou Onana suffered an ACL injury in the first half of that win.

Charles De Ketelaere scored twice last time out and will keep his place at the top end of the pitch, while Jeremy Doku may have to be an impact sub again.

World Cup Odds

Spain vs Belgium Odds

Spain are 8/13 to win this game in 90 minutes, with Belgium at 9/2. A draw is 3/1 which would see extra-time and over 2.5 goals is 8/11. 

Oyarzabal is 10/3 to open the scoring, with Yamal 6/4 to score at any time. 

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Charles De Ketelaere 1+ shot on target (Sub Switch) @ 4/6 

I don’t usually put forward a shot on target as a single selection, but the value on offer in my mind here is too good to ignore. De Ketelaere was in fine fettle against USA, having three shots on target and scoring two goals. He has now proven himself as Belgium’s first-choice centre-forward and although Spain are a far superior outfit, I think he can definitely land one effort on target.

The biggest bonus for this price in my eyes is Betfred’s Sub Switch offer, which rolls your bet onto the oncoming substitute if your initial pick is replaced, and in Belgium’s case, the dangerous Lukaku has often been the man to replace De Ketelaere.

He came on and scored off the bench against USA, and one of these two should be able to test Unai Simon in the Spain goal.

Betred's Sub Switch rolls your bet to the oncoming substitute, so you stay in the game, even when your player doesn’t.

Spain to win to nil @ 8/5

Spain have been solid as a rock at this World Cup, and are the only side remaining yet to concede a goal. The attack gets a lot of praise, but the defensive unit has been untroubled, even against a talented Portuguese outfit. 

I think they are more than likely to win this game by a narrow margin, so will back Spain to win to nil as my second selection.