- Spain have not conceded in their last two games, beating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
- Austria have conceded 6 goals in their last 4 away games in all competitions.
- Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal has scored 5 goals in his last 5 games, as La Roja have netted 10 in that same span.
Stylistic clash in Los Angeles
These two sides are on very different sides of the spectrum as far as playing styles are concerned. Spain are possession-based and probe centrally before opening teams up through wide attackers, while Austria are more vertical and turnover-driven.
That has implications for Thursday's game at Los Angeles Stadium, where the subplot will be whether Luis de la Fuente's Spain can maintain their control of the ball when faced with a gegenpress that is relentless and will not let the Spanish side catch a breath.
De la Fuente has been at the helm since December 2022, moulding a squad that has a possession-first playing style into a slick, high-control machine. They lean on their width and the incision of their front line to devastating effect, and have a clinical finisher in Mikel Oyarzabal.
Spain to maintain control
Ralf Rangnick's Austria are a different proposition entirely. His teams always look to press high up the pitch and win the ball back with aggression. They aren't quite as polished as Spain at the moment, but they've got enough quality to pose a test to the European champions.
Austria's form in recent games has been a little mixed, with a 3-1 win over Jordan, a 2-0 defeat to Argentina and a 3-3 draw with Algeria their most recent results. Their overall form reads 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats in their last 10 in all competitions.
Spain are unbeaten in their last 10 in all competitions, winning six and drawing four. They've won their last 2 against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, and the World Cup holders look primed for a knockout stage run in 2026.
Going against the grain
Spain are the clear favourites in this fixture and rightfully so, but Austria's ability to push forward, turnovers and intensity makes them a threat. The draw line of 19/5 looks too big given that Austria will be the team pushing for the upset and the fact that this is a trip for them. Spain should control the football for the majority of this game and edge it, but Austria's pressing will make it a tight game for long spells. A smart play in this clash is Both Teams to Score - No at 11/25, which fits the profile of a Spain team that will keep it tight at the back.
