Spain have not conceded a single goal at this World Cup. Not one, across six matches, including a knockout win over Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal that ended with Ronaldo's international career and a Mikel Merino winner scored by a substitute on the pitch for under six minutes. It's a genuinely historic defensive record heading into a quarterfinal, and it sits alongside a 35-match unbeaten run that has made Luis de la Fuente's side the tournament's clearest favorite.
Belgium, by contrast, have made an art form of the improbable. They trailed Senegal 0-2 with five minutes of normal time left in the Round of 32 and won anyway. They then dispatched the USA 4-1 in the Round of 16 — Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice, Hans Vanaken profiting from a Matt Freese error, Romelu Lukaku sealing it — showing they can also simply be ruthlessly good when the situation allows it. This is the matchup with, on paper, the widest gap in current form of any quarterfinal. Whether that gap actually shows up on the pitch is the entire question.
De la Fuente's side dominate the ball as a matter of course, and their attacking depth off the bench — Merino's winner against Portugal is the clearest evidence — means fatigue rarely costs them. Mikel Oyarzabal leads the scoring, Lamine Yamal provides the individual brilliance, and the double pivot in midfield rarely allows opponents a clean transition.
De Bruyne dictates tempo from deep, De Ketelaere has become a genuine goal threat in behind, and Lukaku offers the physical out-ball Belgium need when games get stretched. Their defense has been breached repeatedly this tournament — but their capacity to simply outscore problems has been the story of their run.
Spain control the opening 30 minutes comfortably, and Mikel Oyarzabal opens the scoring with a composed finish after a patient build-up carves Belgium open for the first time. Belgium, chasing the game far earlier than they'd like, push men forward — and get caught out on the counter as Oyarzabal doubles his tally before the hour mark.
With Belgium's shape stretched thin trying to find a way back in, Lamine Yamal adds a third in the final 20 minutes, running at a tiring Belgian back line and finishing coolly. Spain's unbeaten run extends to 35 matches, and their case as the team to beat at this World Cup gets significantly harder to argue against.
A brace that extends his tournament tally further and does the early damage that puts Belgium on the back foot for the rest of the match.
A late third against a stretched Belgian defense chasing the game. At 19, still the most watchable individual talent on the pitch regardless of scoreline.
If Belgium have any route into this match, it runs through De Bruyne conjuring something from a deep central position that Spain's midfield hasn't had to deal with yet this tournament. He is the single biggest reason Belgium have not lost from a losing position twice already at this World Cup.