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Spain vs Scotland betting tips:
- Alvaro Morata first goalscorer - 16/5 BetMGM
- Scotland under 0.5 goals - 11/10 William Hill
- Over 7.5 corners - 48/15 Parimatch
Scotland need just one point against Spain on Thursday to secure Euro 2024 qualification with Steve Clarke’s team currently top of Group A.
Five wins from five matches have put the Tartan Army on the bring of punching their ticket to Germany next summer, but a meeting against the 2008 and 2012 European champions promises to be their toughest fixture of the campaign so far.
Spain started Euro 2024 qualifying slowly, but are making up for lost time after winning the Nations League over the summer.
Football betting sites have priced Spain as favourites to claim all three points in Seville, but Scotland will be dangerous opponents.
Alvaro Morata hot streak to continue
Alvaro Morata has been in good goalscoring form of late. Indeed, the centre-forward has netted four times in his last four games for Atletico Madrid.
Morata also bagged a hat-trick for Spain in their 7-1 demolition of Georgia in September with Luis de la Fuente expected to favour the 30-year-old to lead the line against Scotland on Thursday evening.
De la Fuente has focused on translating more of Spain’s possession into goal threat. They are moving the ball more quickly into the final third than they did at the 2022 World Cup.
Scotland have kept four clean sheets in five Euro 2024 qualifiers so far, but they will come under intense pressure in Seville. The heat could also be a factor.
Spain have other attacking options, like Marco Asensio and Dani Olmo, but Morata has had more shots than any other Spanish player in qualifying. He will be their focal point.
Tip: Alvaro Morata first scorer - 16/5 at BetMGM
Scotland to struggle in attack
For a team without a top quality centre-forward, Scotland have done a good job of keeping the goals flowing throughout Euro 2024 qualifying.
Clarke’s team have found the back of the net at least once in every match they have played so far, putting two past Spain when they visited Hampden Park earlier in the campaign.
John McGinn and Scott McTominay are both proven goalscorers for Scotland, with the latter boasting six goals in just five qualifiers.
Their late runs into the box could feasibly give Spain some trouble - it certainly did when McTominay scored twice against Spain in the reverse fixture in March.
However, Scotland might not have enough possession to create much in the way of opportunities in Seville. They might be restricted to chances from set pieces.
Kieran Tierney’s absence through injury could also limit Scotland as an attacking force with the Real Sociedad defender key to the way they play out from the back and hit their opponents on the counter attack.
Look out for corners
Spain have had the majority share of possession in every Euro 2024 qualifier they have played so far and that trend will almost certainly continue against Scotland on Thursday night.
Indeed, Scotland might have to play the majority of the match with their backs to the wall and that could lead to Spain winning a high number of corner kicks.
There were eight corners in total during Spain’s thrashing of Georgia in their last Euro 2024 qualification match with six of them won by the away team. Set pieces will likely be a factor against Scotland too.
Spain won the same number of corner kicks in the defeat to Scotland at Hampden Park in March. This, however, could play into Scotland’s hands as they are strong at defending crosses into their own penalty box.
Tip: Over 7.5 corners - 48/15 at Parimatch
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
