Neymar vs Hazard, Coutinho vs De Bruyne: The key battles as Brazil face Belgium
Whether or not you have a vested interest in any other the remaining quarter-finalists at the World Cup there is little question as to the match that promises to be the most enthralling.
It’s tournament favourites Brazil against tournament top scorers Belgium and the attacking talent on display should ensure a real festival of football in Kazan.
Across the pitch there are comparisons to be drawn between some truly world class talents, starting between the posts between two apparent Real Madrid targets that could both be on the move this summer.
Brazil’s Alisson hasn’t really had any opportunity to show what he can do this summer, with the Selecao having conceded just five shots on target to date and conceding only once but there’s little doubt that this will be his busiest match yet.
The Roma star is high on the wish list of a number of top clubs and recent reports have even suggested that Chelsea may pip the likes of Madrid and Liverpool to his signature. That would open up a window for his opposite number tonight, Thibaut Courtois, to potentially make a long-touted return to Spain.
The Belgium keeper has made more than twice as many saves as Alisson this summer (eight) but conceded four goals to the Brazilian’s one and his record in Russia is sure to be put to the test too.
It’s Alisson that enjoyed a far more impressive season last time around, boasting a save success rate of 80.1% that was bettered only by Jan Oblak in Europe’s top five leagues. Courtois’ figure sat at a far more modest 70.4% by comparison, and he will need to turn the tables if Belgium are to upset the odds.
Further upfield the two midfield creators for either side will be hoping to make the difference, meanwhile, and the meeting between Coutinho and Kevin De Bruyne is one to look forward to.
Both players are operating in slightly more withdrawn roles than they would perhaps like or are at least accustomed to, but both have still had a big impact for their sides this summer.
No player has created more chances from open play than Coutinho thus far this summer (11), while De Bruyne leads the way for the most clear cut chances that he has carved out for teammates (four). Both have just a single assist to their name as things stand, while the Brazil star has scored twice having had more freedom to support the attack.
Allowing De Bruyne to do the same, potentially by installing Marouane Fellaini into the starting XI at Dries Mertens’ expense, would really allow us to see which playmaker has the edge.
Both players will be keen to pose a threat themselves of course, but it will be up to the likes of Neymar and Eden Hazard to produce some individual brilliance if this game is as finely balanced as it promises to be.
The former has faced his fair share of criticism this summer but still leads the way for total shots (23), shots on target (12) and key passes (16) in Russia, with two goals and an assist to his name.
Hazard, meanwhile, has two goals and two assists whilst also ranking among the top ten players for shots per 90 minutes (4) as well as key passes (4) and dribbles (4.7). With both players yet again on the radar of Real Madrid and their battle for the spotlight will be another key facet to a game that should live up to the hype as the best of the quarter-finals.
