FIFA WC 2022 | Morocco vs Spain Preview & prediction | H2H Record | line-up

The final day of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Round of 16 will see continental neighbors Morocco and Spain face off in a thrilling contest at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.

 The two will meet for the second consecutive World Cup, having previously met in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup. While Spain lost controversially to Japan in the final game, Morocco remains hot on their heels and are one of the five teams to go without a defeat in the group stage.

Morocco vs Spain Head to Head

All three meetings between the sides have come in competitive football as they look to down one another on Tuesday. It is worth noting that their 2018 contest was the first time both Spain and Morocco met in 57 years. Spain won both legs of the 1962 World Cup qualifiers. Two years after the 1962 World Cup, Spain would go on to win their first Euro title in 1964.

Morocco will have revenge on the cards, despite drawing 2-2 against Spain in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup. A last-gasp equalizer from Iago Aspas saw Morocco denied a win and finish rock-bottom of the group. Spain’s other goal on that day was scored by Isco, while the African side’s goals were scored by Khalid Boutaïb and Youssef En-Nesyri.

Morocco vs Spain Head to Head

What happened in the group stage?

Morocco started their World Cup group campaign with a goalless draw against 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia. Expected to finish outside the top two, the African side stunned Belgium by winning 2-0, a consequence of which also saw the latter crash out of the tournament. They would then end their group campaign with a narrow 2-1 win against Canada and top Group F with seven points.

Spain started their campaign with a thumping 7-0 win against Costa Rica, which would later prove to be significant as they made the last 16 on goal difference. While Luis Enrique’s side looked in total command against Germany, a late equalizer saw them walk away with a point. Ultimately, a right but controversial winner from Japan saw them finish on just four points and a better goal difference compared to Germany saw them make the last 16.

Group Standings

Likely Suspensions

Morocco - Sofyan Amrabat, Abdelhamid Sabiri

Spain – Sergio Busquets

World Cup Record

Morocco

Spain

Morocco vs Spain Predicted Lineup

Morocco (4-3-3): 

Bounou; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal

Spain (4-3-3):

Simon; Carvajal, P. Torres, Laporte, Alba; Koke, Rodri, Pedri; F. Torres, Morata, Olmo 

Morocco vs Spain Date, kick-off time, and venue

The FIFA World Cup 2022 Round of 16 encounters on Tuesday, December 6 will kick-off at 8:30 PM IST, 6:00 PM Local Time

Venue

Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan

Prediction

Morocco 1-1 Spain (Morocco to win in penalty shootout)