Portugal v Spain Betting Preview – World Cup 2018 15th June – 7.00 p.m
It is early to be calling a match a group decider but this looks as if that it will be just that. Regardless of whoever wins this game it is still likely to be Spain and Portugal making their way from Group B through to the knockout phase of the 2018 World Cup. It will still be an interesting battle though between the two Iberian neighbours as they square off to gain early supremacy in the group which is likely to carry through to the end of it.
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Portugal News and Form
Reigning European champions Portugal may have a difficult World Cup campaign ahead of them as they do not carry much form with them. They have collected only the two victories in their last six outings but as a positive, they have lost only one of those half dozen games which was a friendly against the Netherlands in March. Over the weekend they completed their warm-up action with a 3-0 win over Algeria. That is back-to-back clean sheets that Portugal have now ahead of the tournament, but they failed to get one in any of their previous four. Under 2.5 goals at bet365 is at 4/7 odds* (Betting Odds taken from June 10th, 2018 at 10:58 p.m.) and a sensible proposition as Portugal likely to keep things tight.
In winning Euro 2016 they drew six of their seven games (over 90 min). A win may be a stretch for them therefore. Following this tough opener against Spain, Portugal will then meet Morocco and Iran in Group B at Russia 2018 so are still likely to make their way through to the round of sixteen, even if they are beaten by their neighbours in this opener. Despite the progress of Milan’s Andre Silva, Portugal are gooing to be heavily reliant on their captain Cristiano Ronaldo for their goal output. Ronaldo is trading 15/8 odds* (Betting Odds taken from June 10th, 2018 at 10:58 p.m.) in the bet365 anytime goalscorer market. It wouldn’t be a disaster for the Portuguese they lost this opener and ahead of kick off they are 1/3 odds at bet365 to qualify * (Betting Odds taken from June 10th, 2018 at 10:58 p.m.).
Spain News and Form
Spain been completed their warm-up matches with a 1-0 win over Tunisia on the weekend. It means that Spain have gone undefeated since their Euro 2016 exit all the way through to start of the 2018 World Cup. So that is some form they are carrying with them and they are looking more on par with their 2010 set up which saw them become World Champions for the first time, than their failed 2014 nightmare where they couldn’t make it out of the group stage in their title defence. The Red Fury have a great looking midfield setup, and once again it is their big strength in easily keeping the ball from their opponents.
The question remains whether or not they will have enough punch up front to go all the way and land the title outright. They are going to be entrusting Diego Costa with leading the line for the bulk of their campaign and Costa is the 13/8 odds favourite* (Betting Odds taken from June 10th, 2018 at 10:58 p.m.) in the bet365 anytime goalscorer market. So once again Spain get a difficult opening fixture but they are odds-on favourites to win it and thereby extend their unbeaten streak. In the bet365 correct score market, a Spain 1-0 result is the 9/2 odds favourite option and the Red Fury are 15/8 odds* (Betting Odds taken from June 10th, 2018 at 10:58 p.m.) to win to nil.
Portugal v Spain Head to Head
There is plenty of history to look back on between these two Iberian rivals with Spain well ahead 16-6 from their previous meetings, with 13 drawn fixtures as well. The last coming together was at Euro 2012 and after 0-0 draw, Spain progressed by a penalty shootout. Over the last five meetings, things are even with two wins each and a draw. From a betting perspective, there is a trend running as both teams have failed to score in each of the last five contests that Portugal and Spain have played. Spain won their last World Cup meeting which was at South Africa 2010 with a 1-0 success.
Portugal v Spain Betting Odds*
Spain 17/20
Draw 23/10
Portugal 10/3
* (Betting Odds taken from bet365 on June 10th, 2018 at 10:58 p.m.)
Portugal v Spain Predictions
Spain should be able to get the opening victory in this fixture and it is important for them down the line, because it could afford them the chance to rest of players when it comes to their final group stage match. They may have to be patient though because Portugal can be frustrating to break down and therefore back Spain to win by a one-goal margin.
