Spain VS Norway Match Prediction
2019-03-23
19:45:00
Spain
VS
Norway
Our Prediction Tip
Spain will win this match.
2019-03-2319:45:00 Spain will win this match.
Spain have won four of their six matches against Norway, with one draw and one Norwegian win – back at Euro 2000. Since then, the two teams have only played two more games against each other – Spain winning 2-1 at home and 3-0 away in the Euro 2004 play-offs.
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Norway impressed during the UEFA Nations League, while Spain’s early form counted for nothing after losing their final two games to finish second.
But there is a big difference in the calibre of opposition in Group A compared to Group C and Spain showed enough positive signs to indicate they can put their below-par World Cup firmly behind them.
Rodrigo scored in their two opening games, while Sergio Ramos’ experience – and four goals under Enrique – show he still has a role to play even if the majority of his World Cup and Euro-winning team-mates have now retired.
Iker Muniain and Jesus Navas are both back in the squad to show Enrique can think outside the box, while he has also been happy to leave senior players out too.
It all bodes well for a rebuilding job that has also included putting six past Croatia and beating England at Wembley.
Norway, by contrast, are relying on players like Stefan Johansen and Mohamed Elyounoussi – neither of whom have made an impact in the Premier League this season.
They do not concede many but, both games against Cyprus apart (and even then it was just two apiece) they do not score many either.
If Sergio Ramos can lead the Spanish defence to another clean sheet, with David de Gea back behind them, Spain should ensure their recent winning form in Euro qualifiers continues.
Spain, with home advantage and a brilliant record in European Championship qualifiers are huge favourites to start with a win. Bet365 and Ladbrokes are both offering 2/11 on a Spain win.
Norway have not been prolific in recent matches despite their own success, and a Spain win to nil is a best price of 4/5 with Ladbrokes, Betfair and Paddy Power.
With Norway not conceding many either, however, under 2.5 goals is a tempting best price of 8/5.
Rodrigo scored in Spain’s wins against England and Croatia and he is a best price of 5/6 with Ladbrokes and 10Bet to score at any time. Alvaro Morata is similarly priced too.
Spain may have suffered a bit of a blip in 2018 but they have the defensive strength and the attacking prowess to start Euro 2020 qualifying with a bang. Their squad boasts an intriguing mix of experience levels.
Sergi Gomez, Sergio Canales and Jaime Mata could all make their Spain debuts as the rebuilding continues but Napoli’s Fabian Ruiz has had to withdraw through illness and so misses the chance to join them. Isco, Iago Aspas and Cesar Azpilicueta are all absent from the most recent squad, while Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez and Diego Costa also miss out due to injury. Koke and Thiago Alcantara have also been overlooked, though Ruiz’s flu has seen Saul Niguez recalled. Jesus Navas and Iker Muniain have both been recalled from the international wilderness too.
Rodrigo – Two of his four international goals came as Spain beat England and Croatia at the start of their UEFA Nations League campaign.
Alvaro Morata – Enjoying a new lease of life back in La Liga with Atletico Madrid as he prepares to try and add to his 13 goals in 27 international appearances.
Sergio Ramos – Four goals so far under Luis Enrique and the experienced captain now has 161 international caps and 17 goals.
Spain lost 3-2 at home to England and away to Croatia to end their winning start to the UEFA Nations League and cost them top spot in the group, They were 3-0 down at half-time in the former, before Paco Alcacer and Sergio Ramos pulled goals back in vain. In the latter, meanwhile, Dani Ceballos and Ramos both scored equalisers only for Spain to lose to a stoppage-time goal. Most recently, however, they got back to winning ways as Brais Mendez scored the only goal of November’s friendly with Bosnia in Las Palmas.
Norway have had to contend with a trio of injuries, as Orjan Nyland, Birger Meling and Sander Berge all miss out. The Norwegians could stick with a similar line-up to that used against Cyprus last time out with few changes to the squad for this Euro 2020 qualifier.
Josh King – Links up with his country after returning to goalscoring form for Bournemouth last weekend.
Ola Kamara – Scored both goals in the win in Cyprus which sealed top spot in the group for Norway – he now has six goals in 13 international appearances.
Stefan Johansen – The Norway captain kicked off the UEFA Nations League with two goals in the win against Cyprus and his loan move to West Brom has got him playing again.
Norway recovered from an away defeat against Bulgaria as three wins and a draw in their final four games earned them top spot in their UEFA Nations League group. Ole Selnaes scored the only goal in a win against Slovenia, while Mohamed Eyounoussi did likewise against Bulgaria. Bjorn Johnsen’s late equaliser earned a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture against the Slovenians before Ola Kamara’s double saw Norway seal top spot with a 2-0 win in Cyprus.
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