The world's top-ranked side face the current European champions in a friendly on Tuesday as Belgium host Spain in Brussels.

Both sides are preparing for next summer's Euro 2016 finals after finishing top in their qualifying groups, making them among the favourites to win the tournament.

Belgium

© Getty Images

Belgium come into this match ranked as the best side in the world by FIFA, having won eight of their last nine matches, including a 3-1 win in a friendly against Italy on Friday.

Marc Wilmots's side's only defeat since their 2014 World Cup exit at the hands of Argentina came during the Euro 2016 qualifiers earlier this year, losing 1-0 to Wales in Cardiff in June.

Belgium finished their qualifying campaign strongly though, winning their final four fixtures to top Group B ahead of Chris Coleman's side.

Defending has been a problem for the team in the last few months, having kept just one clean sheet in their last seven outings. The team have been hampered by the knee injury that has sidelined first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, while captain Vincent Kompany has been in and out of the side with injury.

The team have been free-scoring in 2015 though, netting 24 times in nine fixtures this year, with the loss to Wales the only match that they were unable to find the back of the net in.

Marouane Fellaini is the team's top scorer in 2015, netting six times in all competitions, including four in the qualifiers, while Eden Hazard has five goals in his national colours this year.

Recent form: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWWW

Spain

© Getty Images

Spain also come into this match in strong form, dropping points just once during their Euro 2016 qualifiers, leaving them with seven straight wins in all competitions.

During their unbeaten run, the two-time defending European champions have conceded just one goal, keeping clean sheets in their last six matches.

Like Belgium, Spain have already played during the current international break, securing a 2-0 win over England in Alicante on Friday thanks to goals from Santi Cazorla and Mario Gaspar.

Cazorla and Gaspar have both been in strong form for the national side recently, with the Arsenal man also netting a brace in the 4-0 win over Luxembourg last month, while Gaspar scored on his debut in the 1-0 win over Ukraine.

Vicente del Bosque's side have been beaten just once in 2015, losing 2-0 to the Netherlands in a friendly in March, while their only other defeat in the last 12 months also came in a friendly, losing 1-0 to world champions Germany last November.

Spain will be bidding to become the first side to win the European Championships for the third time next summer, having become the first team to defend their title four years ago.

Recent form: WLLLWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWW

Team News

© Getty Images

The home side could be without Eden Hazard, as the Chelsea midfielder is struggling with illness, forcing him to miss training on Sunday.

Laurent Depoitre has also missed training in the build-up to this match with an ankle injury, but Sven Kums could make his debut for the Belgian side, having been an unused substitute last time out.

Kompany, Courtois, Fellaini and Nacer Chadli are among the regulars not included in this squad through injury.

Spain will be without Thiago Alcantara for the next couple of weeks after he picked up a knee injury in the win over England, which will keep him out for the next couple of weeks.

Cazorla came off the bench in the Bayern Munich man's place at Wembley, and could come into the starting lineup having scored the second goal for Del Bosque's side last time out.

Belgium possible starting lineup:
Mignolet, Alderweireld, Lombaerts, Vertonghen, Denayer, Witsel, Ferreira-Carrasco, Nainggolan, Mirallas, De Bruyne, Lukaku

Spain possible starting lineup:
Casillas, Bartra, Pique, Busquets, Azpilicueta, Gaspar, Iniesta, Nolito, Cazorla, Alcacer, Costa

Head To Head

The sides last played in a World Cup qualifier in 2009, during which Spain secured a 5-0 victory thanks to goals from David Silva, David Villa and Gerard Pique.

Spain have won their last four matches against the world's top-ranked side, and have lost just once in their last 10 matches against Belgium.

Belgium last beat Spain in 1986, and have won just five of their 21 previous meetings with Spain, while 11 fixtures have been won by the Spanish side.

We say: Belgium 2-2 Spain

Spain have a much stronger head-to-head record against Belgium in recent years, but Wilmots's side are much stronger than the team that were thrashed in a World Cup qualifier in 2009. Both sides have been in strong form in recent months, which suggests this could be a closely-fought fixture.

Previews by email