Morocco v Spain Bet Builder Tips
- Spain to Win
- Alvaro Morata to score anytime
- Under 2.5 cards
- Under 9.5 corners
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Tuesday, November 6: 3pm
TV: ITV/ RTE2
Spain to Win
The cynics among us might wonder whether Spain lost their final group game against Japan on purpose. Totally dominant in the first half, La Roja allowed their opponents to take the lead through two sloppy goals and subsequently mounted an incredibly meek fightback.
The result is Spain have now avoided a potential quarter-final date with Brazil and will probably face a far less intimidating Portuguese side if they make it to the last-eight, while Germany were also knocked out of the World Cup for good measure.
Spain were phenomenal against Costa Rica and excellent against Germany, while they showed how good they were in the first half against Japan. They may have failed to win the group, but they are among the most likely teams from their half of the draw to make the World Cup final.
Morocco, on the other hand, have been excellent in the tournament so far and deservedly topped a group containing Croatia and Belgium, who finished second and third at the 2018 World Cup.
They’ve conceded just one goal in the tournament to date – the joint-best defensive record alongside Brazil – and will prove a very difficult outfit to break down for a Spanish side that generally struggles to score goals, that game against Costa Rica aside.
Spain should have just about enough to book a first quarter-final appearance since 2010, but it won’t be easy by any means.
Alvaro Morata to score anytime
Alvaro Morata has his critics, but he has been in excellent form at this World Cup. Cody Gakpo’s failure to score against the USA on Saturday means that Morata is the only player at the World Cup who has scored in every game so far.
Because of their lack of an out-and-out goalscorer, Spain need Morata to keep finding the back of the net in the knockout stages if they are to go far in the World Cup. He has averaged two shots per game at the World Cup, meaning he has scored one goal from every two shots he’s attempted so far. No opposition player has scored against Morocco at the World Cup, but the Atletico Madrid man is the most likely to do so.
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Under 2.5 cards
Spain and Morocco’s disciplinary records are among the best at this World Cup, with the two nations collecting just three yellow cards between them during the group stages. Spain have picked up just one card in their three group games, which is hardly surprising considering they averaged 77% possession during the group stages and were hardly ever in a position to foul their opponents.
Only England, who received no cards in the group stage, boast a better disciplinary record than Spain. Spain also made the fourth-lowest number of fouls during the group stages, averaging just nine per game.
Morocco, on the other hand, have received just two yellow cards in their three group games and boast the joint-fourth-best disciplinary record at the World Cup.
It is highly unlikely that Tuesday’s round-of-16 tie will see a flurry of yellow cards.
Under 9.5 corners
For all their possession and territorial dominance, Spain do not win an awful lot of corners. The Spanish won just 13 corners in the three group games at a rate of just over four per game, while they have conceded just five at a rate of under two per game.
They didn’t concede any corners at all in their games against Japan and Costa Rica, hardly surprising given that they enjoyed 82% possession against Costa Rica and 83% of the ball against Japan.
Morocco, meanwhile, won just three corners in their three games so far, failing to win any in their opening game against Croatia and managing just one in their 2-0 win over Belgium.
It is highly unlikely that those trends will change on Tuesday.
Morocco v Spain betting tips
- Spain to Win
- Alvaro Morata to score anytime
- Under 2.5 cards
- Under 9.5 corners
*A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 15/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP
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