Prediction and odds for the game: Greece (15/2) vs Spain (9/20)
We are backing under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 8/11
When: 11th November 2021, Kick-off 19:45
Where: The Athens Olympic Stadium
On Thursday night, Spain will look to enhance their chances of qualifying for next year’s World Cup, as La Roja visits Athens to face Greece in Group B of qualifying.
Greece
The home side is up against it to even finish in the top-two of the group. However, a surprise win in this clash would put the third-place team just a point behind the second-place visitors with just one game remaining in the group.
A home win seems unlikely considering the opposition. Greece have been hard to beat in qualifying of late though, as a 2-0 defeat in Sweden in their last qualifier ended a six-match unbeaten run in the competition. Drawing too many games has been Greece’s recent problem in qualifying, as they have drawn four of their previous seven qualifiers.
When it comes to home World Cup qualifiers, Greece have lost just once in their last matches in qualifying on home soil. They are also unbeaten in their last four home qualifiers for the World Cup.
One factor that will work against the Sky Blue and Whites is the absence of attacking midfielder Anastasios Bakasetas, who has played a part in four goals in their six qualifiers so far. He is suspended, along with Pantelis Hatzidiakos. In-form Stuttgart defender Dinos Mavropanos also missed out on the squad through injury.
Spain
La Roja Furia were expected to top Group B, but it hasn’t been as simple as expected. In fact, Luis Enrique’s team is currently second place in the table, trailing group leaders Sweden by a point heading into this penultimate match of the group, which is a clash with the Scandinavians. Spain simply has to win this game and take the battle for the one qualification spot into that final match.
Spain head into this clash with an unbelievable record of having lost just once in their last 69 World Cup qualifiers. However, that defeat was a 2-1 defeat in Sweden, which could well prove decisive in who qualifies for the World Cup automatically.
The reverse against Greece was the other game that Spain have failed to win in Group B, which resulted in a tight 1-1 draw in Granada.
Spain have a good recent away record in World Cup qualifying, as La Roja Furia has won six of their previous seven qualifiers on their travels.
Despite all the positive records, Spain head to Athens without several quality players. Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Pedri and Mikel Oyarzabal will all miss out through injury. However, they will still feel confident of emerging from this clash with maximum points.
Conclusion
Both teams are hard to beat and neither will give much away. We believe that Spain will emerge with a victory in a low-scoring encounter. With that in mind, we are backing an away win and under 2.5 goals scored.
Our Tips: We are backing under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 8/11 and/or the Spain win at odds of 9/20. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
[geosnippet id=3620]Are you looking for a bookmaker to place your bet on Greece vs Spain? Well, be sure to check out our betting page for the bookmakers we recommend for your wager. If you are looking for more previews and tips, then be sure to visit our soccer predictions page, where we post on a regular basis.
Who will come out on top in this potentially pivotal match in Group B?
