Spain VS Russia Match Prediction
2018-07-01
14:00:00
Spain
VS
Russia
Our Prediction Tip
Spain will win this match.
2018-07-0114:00:00 Spain will win this match.
Spain and Russia have now met six times since the break-up of the Soviet Union and the Spanish are unbeaten in all six. Russia’s only previous defeat of the Spanish was as the USSR in 1971 and Spain have won six of the other nine matches between the two. At major tournaments, Spain have won four from four – the European Championship final in 1964 and, more recently, a 1-0 win at Euro 2004 and two wins – 4-1 in the group stage and 3-0 in the semi-final – at Euro 2008. They have only met once since then – the friendly in November in St Petersburg which Spain led 2-0 and 3-2 before Russia claimed a 3-3 draw. Sergio Ramos scored two penalties for the Spanish, while Fyodor Smolov netted twice for the hosts – Jordi Alba and Aleksei Miranchuk scoring the other goals.
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Spain are now unbeaten in their last 23 matches thanks to Iago Aspas’ late equaliser against Morocco.
Spain have never lost to Russia since the break-up of the Soviet Union, and have won all four matches they have played at major tournaments (both against the USSR and Russia).
Spain have scored at least three goals against Russia in each of their last three matches, including November’s 3-3 draw.
Defeat to Uruguay was Russia’s seventh loss in 13 games – they have won three of the other six, two of which were in the World Cup group stage
Spain are yet to hit top form at this World Cup and yet find themselves second-favourites to lift the trophy, behind Brazil, after the group stage. There is no doubting their route to the final is easier on paper than if they had finished second in Group B.
Russia, on the other hand, started the World Cup in blistering form but were brought back down to earth by Uruguay’s 3-0 win last time out.
Uruguay’s victory proved the difference between Russia and the top nations and Spain are certainly in the ‘top nations’ bracket.
They have been unconvincing so far but given the off-field turmoil ahead of the first game – after Julen Lopetegui’s sacking – they will not complain at how things have panned out.
Fernando Hierro’s team now need to silence the home crowd and Diego Costa and co need to fire. David Silva, Isco and Andre Iniesta all provide creativity and other goalscoring options.
Spain have a good record against Russia too, including all four times they have met at a major tournament. Their 3-3 draw in November was the third time they have scored three or more past the Russians in their past three games.
Russia impressed in their opening two fixtures but the defeat to Uruguay was telling – even with home advantage, they should not be troubling a Spain team who have not lost since Euro 2016.
As you would expect, given they are now second-favourites to win the World Cup, Spain are odds-on favourites to beat Russia in their last-16 tie.
Betfair and Betway are offering 8/13 on the Spanish to win.
One thing that does seem likely, however, is that there will be goals. There were six, three apiece, when these two teams last met in November, while Russia’s three group stage matches saw 12 goals scored compared to 11 in Spain’s.
Both teams to score has been set at 6/5 with Betfair and Paddy Power and you can get 23/20 from Ladbrokes on there being over 2.5 goals in Sunday’s match in Moscow. A Spain win and BTTS is 16/5 with Betfair.
As for those goals, Diego Costa – with three to his name already – is favourite to net against Russia at any time – 888sport have priced a Costa goal at a best price of 23/17. Isco opened his account for the tournament last time out, meanwhile – he is 23/10 with Betfair and Paddy Power to score at any time.
1) Spain to win at 8/13 with Betway
2) Both teams to score at 6/5 with Betfair
3) Total goals = over 2.5 at 23/20 with Ladbrokes
Spain have yet to hit top gear but against the hosts – who were thrashed 3-0 by Uruguay last time out – this could be the point at which they really start to show their class. Expect goals, based on each team’s group stage matches, and Spain to progress as they look to live up to their new billing as likely finalists.
Thiago Alcantara returned to the Spain team to face Morocco as they reverted to their more usual 4-3-3 formation. Lucas Vazquez dropped back to the bench as a result. Iago Aspas’ stoppage-time equaliser might not be enough to earn him a starting place, meanwhile, with Diego Costa having scored three goals in the other two group matches.
Diego Costa (striker) – Having netted five times in qualifying, Costa scored three times in the first two group-stage matches.
David Silva (attacking midfielder) – Manchester City’s playmaker was integral to their record-breaking Premier League season and was another to score five qualifying goals for Spain.
Isco (attacking midfielder) – Five goals in qualifying, three in the friendly against Argentina and now off the mark at the 2018 World Cup with his goal against Morocco.
Spain 3-3 Portugal
Spain 1-0 Iran
Spain 2-2 Morocco
Spain team qualified for the last-16 stage as Group B winners but only just – Iago Aspas’ VAR-reviewed stoppage-time equaliser enough to earn a point against Morocco in the final game, just as Portugal were dropping two points to a late Iran equaliser in their match. Spain’s draw – after Isco had earlier cancelled out Morocco’s opener – was their second in three matches, having also drawn 3-3 with Portugal. Diego Costa’s double and Nacho’s strike look to have given Spain the win before Cristiano Ronaldo completed his hat-trick with a late free-kick to seal a point. Costa scored again in a scrappy win against Iran before the draw with Morocco proved just enough to qualify first on goals scored.
Spain are unbeaten since they were knocked out of Euro 2016 but they have won just three of their last eight matches. Draws with Germany, Russia and Switzerland, either side of the stunning 6-1 thrashing of Argentina, preceded a late win against Tunisia in their final warm-up game – Iago Aspas also striking late in that one. They then drew two of their three group stage matches.
Russia’s decision to rotate players backfired a little in the match against Uruguay when one of the players rotated in, Igor Smolnikov, was sent off for two yellow cards after just 36 minutes. He will now miss the match against Spain through suspension, joining injured Alan Dzagoev on the sidelines. Artem Dzyuba looks to have cemented his place up front, while Aleksandr Golovin, Manuel Fernandes and Yuri Zhirkov are all set to return against Spain.
Denis Cheryshev- Has seized his chance in place of injured Alan Dzagoev with three goals in the first two games – his own goal against Uruguay was pure misfortune.
Artem Dzyuba- Ousted Fyodor Smolov from the starting line-up with two goals in the first two games thanks to his big physical presence up front.
Aleksandr Golovin- A goal and two assists on the opening night proved he is a key playmaker for Russia – particularly in Dzagoev’s absence
Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia
Russia 3-1 Egypt
Russia 0-3 Uruguay
Russia took just two games to book their place in the last-16, putting a bad run of form behind them with a 5-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia – Denis Cheryshev scoring twice after Alan Dzagoev had gone off injured – and a 3-1 win against Egypt. Cheryshev also scored in the latter game, as did Artem Dzyuba who had netted from the bench on the opening night. Their final group game showed the gulf that still exists between Russia football team and the top teams, however – a 3-0 thrashing by Uruguay. Russia played the last 54 with ten men, but were already 2-0 down at the time Igor Smolnikov received his second yellow card.
Russia went seven matches without a win ahead of the World Cup – a run stretching back to a friendly against South Korea in October. They turned that around in perfect time with their 5-0 defeat of Saudi Arabia and 3-1 win against Egypt, however, though the 3-0 loss to Uruguay ensured they had to settle for second place in Group A to set up this match.
After finishing second in Group A, Russia will face Spain at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium – the national stadium. Spain topped Group B ahead of Portugal to set up this last-16 tie. This will be the second time the two nations have faced each other in Russia in the past 12 months, with the previous fixture a high-scoring 3-3 draw. Spain have never lost to Russia, and will hope to continue that record when the match kicks off at 5pm local time on Sunday July 1.
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