Spain and Sweden will both be hoping to secure automatic qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup when they go head-to-head in Seville on Sunday.
The two sides are separated by just a single point in Group B, with Spain leading Sweden. Third-place Greece find themselves six points shy of the Swedes.
📸 ¡¡MENOS DE 3⃣ MINUTOS PARA EL TIEMPO REGLAMENTARIO!!🇬🇷 🆚 🇪🇸 | 0-1 | 87’#VamosEspaña #Catar2022 pic.twitter.com/xXUlfFyV5Z— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) November 11, 2021
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Spain secured their third straight WCQ victory with a 1-0 win over Greece on Thursday, thanks to Pablo Sarabia’s first-half penalty.
Luis Enrique’s men enjoyed 73% possession against the Greeks and limited them to just a single shot on target throughout the match.
La Roja have now won four of their previous six outings across all competitions. They ended Italy’s lengthy unbeaten run last month before losing to France in the Nations League final.
Spain are averaging exactly two goals per game in WCQ Group B and have conceded just five goals in seven matches in the process.
Sweden suffered a shock 2-0 loss to Georgia on Thursday. Despite seeing 60% possession and notching 20 shots, the Swedes were unable to find a way through.
Sweden have now lost two of their seven World Cup qualifiers, picking up five wins along the way (no draws).
When you look at the bigger picture, however, Sweden have won 11 of their last 15 matches across all competitions.
Both teams have failed to score in Sweeden's last 3 games in all competitions. After keeping clean sheets against Kosovo and Greece, they failed to score against Georgia in midweek.
Alexander Isak is Sweden’s biggest threat. The Real Sociedad forward has bagged three goals and three assists in has last seven international appearances.
Head-to-head: Spain and Sweden have faced each other on 16 occasions across all competitions. Spain have picked up six wins, while Sweden have recorded four wins (six draws).
Although La Roja have only lost four of the 16 meetings over the years, it is worth noting that Sweden are enjoying a three-game unbeaten run against Spain.
The Swedes beat Spain 2-1 in the reverse fixture back in September, following back-to-back draws in 2019 and 2021.
Team news: Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati, Gerard Moreno, Yeremi Pino, Mikel Oyarzabal and Eric Garcia are all currently unavailable for Spain through injury.
As for Sweden, Ken Sema has been forced to pull out of the squad due to injury, while Albin Ekdal is suspended after picking up an accumulation of bookings.
Following Sweden’s disappointing 2-0 loss to Georgia in midweek, Spain should cruise to a comfortable victory on Sunday.
Forebet predicts that Spain will score over 1.5 goals and keep a clean sheet on their way to dispatching the Swedes.