Spain edged Belgium 2-1 at SoFi Stadium, a result driven by higher attacking activity and late-game finishing. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the first half at 00:29:35, and Mikel Merino delivered the decisive blow at 01:27:38 after Belgium briefly levelled through De Ketelaere. The tally sheet shows Spain with seven shots on target to Belgium’s two, and Spain earned five corners to Belgium’s one, while fouls ran 13 to 18 in favour of the Belgian side.

Spain’s attacking footprint was the data-driven story of the night, with 12 total attempts and a 7-on-target rate indicating purposeful finishing and sustained pressure. Belgium managed far fewer chances, with only three total shots and two on target, their equaliser coming from Castagne’s assist to De Ketelaere. The timing of Belgium’s goal highlighted their transition threat, but Spain maintained the aggressive intent to close out the game.

Set-piece pressure was a clear differentiator, as Spain generated five corners versus Belgium’s single opportunity. That volume underlined Spain’s ability to pin Belgium back and test their defensive organisation with crosses and second balls. The dependency on wide play and dead-ball situations paid dividends in the approach play even before the late winner.

Defensively, Belgium’s 18 fouls point to a more disruptive approach to stifle Spain, contrasted with Spain’s 13 fouls that suggest cleaner ball retention when possible. Both teams picked up two yellow cards, and there were no red cards, indicating a competitive but controlled contest from a disciplinary standpoint. The distribution of bookings also reflects a balanced but intense clash between the sides.

Key performances emphasised the match’s tactical balance: Ruiz’s early opener demonstrated Spain’s ability to strike quickly from central transitions, while Merino’s late finish illustrated their capacity to sustain pressure and convert chances late in the game. Castagne’s assist for Belgium’s equaliser shows their threat on the break, but their overall output failed to match Spain’s volume and execution across the match.

From a betting angle, the data supports Spain’s superiority in attacking metrics and late-game finishing, reinforced by the set-piece dominance that kept them pressing in the Belgian half. The match underlined that Spain can control tempo and convert chances in the final third, particularly when they generate multiple corners and high on-target accuracy. For Belgium, the outcome reflects a competitive performance that briefly balanced the tie but could not sustain pressure long enough to deny the late winner.

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