Spain v Norway
Saturday 23rd 1945hrs
Football – International – European Championship Qualification
Pick Spain HT/FT
Bookmaker Marathon Bet
Odds: 31/50 (odds taken 21.55 GMT, Thursday 21st March)
Spain have won two of the last three European Championships and will set out on their course to become champions once again when they face Norway at home on Saturday evening.
European Championship Qualifying Betting at Marathon Bet
Spain Preview
Luis Enrique started his reign as boss of the Spanish National team on the back of another disappointing display for them in a major tournament. Russia 2018 ended with a last-16 defeat to the hosts and began about major change at the Spanish FA. The former Barcelona boss was the popular choice and started well with a couple of wins in their UEFA Nations League group. Successive defeats at home to England then away to Croatia meant they missed out on finishing top, however, and a narrow 1-0 win at home to Bosnia in a friendly has meant it will have been a long break for Luis Enrique and his players. Their qualifying group for Euro 2020 is trickier than they would have liked but there’s no doubting that they should have the beating of the likes of Sweden and Romania over the course of the campaign. As ever, there is plenty of talent for the head coach to choose from, but it still feels like a transition period at the moment for Spain with a lot of experience having retired in recent times. That may well make these games more challenging than they would have been but still with a huge expectation that La Furia Roja that are successful in reaching next summer’s Championships.
Key-Facts – Spain v Norway
- Spain have won two of the last three Euro’s and will again be amongst the favourites as qualifying begins
- Norway have been much improved under Lars Lagerback and won their Nations League group
- Spain’s record in home Euro qualifiers is excellent having won their last 17 and suffered just one defeat in 26
Norway Preview
It has been a pretty barren period for Norway in terms of qualifying for major championships, with their last appearance at one coming way back in 2000. The golden era of the 1990’s is now a distant memory, but the recent past have revitalised hope that this group of players could well see them back playing at a European Championship or World Cup before too long. Led by the experienced Lars Lagerback, Norway topped their UEFA Nations League with three wins and a draw from five games, earning them promotion for the next UNL campaign. In total, the last year has produced eight wins and just one defeat from 10 matches and ensures they come into this campaign with some real confidence. It’s a group they will have to be at their best if they are to trouble the higher ranked teams but Lagerback enjoyed great success with his native Sweden so will be well aware of how that teams operates, at least, and knows what it takes to make it through these sections. Looking through the Norway squad and for the first time in a long time there are players playing regularly at the top level for their club teams – particularly in the Premier League.
Spain v Norway Betting Advice
Spain will be pleased to have this game at home as they kick off a campaign that they hope will end with them lifting the European Championship trophy aloft. Norway have much more modest expectations and hopes but at the very least they will be looking to continue their good form of late and progress with what is a relatively young team, but one with potential.
The Spanish have an excellent record in home European qualifiers down the years with 17 straight wins. The last team to beat them in one was Greece back in 2003 and that came after a further nine victories with their last defeat before then in 1991. It is an incredible run of form and one that Norway will do well to trouble. The Norwegians have been on a good run on their travels having picked up three wins in their last five attempts, including an impressive 3-2 success in Iceland. This is going to be a much tougher test, though, and Spain can record comfortable success by winning at half time and full time.
