The second round of the UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifiers wraps up Tuesday, March 28, 2023, with the Tartan Terriers taking on the Red Fury, so we bring you the best Scotland vs. Spain betting pick along with the latest odds update.
Scotland – Spain Betting Tip, Prediction & Odds (28.3.2023)
After missing the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Scotland would like to qualify for the EURO 2024, but that won’t be an easy task by any means. Getting anything from a tough home matchup against the Red Fury would be a huge step in the right direction, so let’s take a closer look.
Scotland vs. Spain: Initial Situation
Spain shouldn’t have too many problems topping Group A ahead of Scotland, Norway, Cyprus, and Georgia. The top two teams will qualify for the EURO 2024, and Scotland will look to grab the second spot. The first-round matches have been excluded from the analysis. Scotland play Cyprus at home on Saturday, while Spain host Norway.
Scotland Stats & Form
The Tartan Terriers qualified for the top tier of the UEFA Nations League in 2022. They topped Group B1 ahead of Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, and Armenia, recording 13 points (W4, D1, L1) and an 11:5 goal difference. The Terriers have won three of their last five games along with a nil-nil draw against Ukraine and a 2-1 defeat to Turkey in a friendly.
The 29-year-old left-back Andrew Robertson (60 caps, three goals) will captain Scotland in the upcoming qualifiers. He’s arguably the best player in this team, while Kieran Tierney (35 caps, one goal) is another top-notch left-back who’ll slot in as a wide centre-back, as head coach Steve Clark prefers to play with five at the back. John McGinn (52 caps, 15 goals) will continue to play an important role in the middle of the park, while Lyndon Dykes (26 caps, eight goals) will lead the frontline.
Spain Stats & Form
The Red Fury put on a disappointing performance in the 2022 World Cup, exiting in the Round of 16 following a loss to Morocco on penalties. They also played in the top tier of the UEFA Nations League last year, finishing atop Group A2 with 11 points (W3, D2, L1) and an 8:5 goal difference.
Luis de la Fuente replaced Luis Enrique at the helm after that World Cup disaster, and the former Spain under-21 team manager won’t make a lot of changes in the Red Fury’s system. He can count on plenty of young and talented players, including the 18-year-old midfielder Gavi (17 caps, three goals) and the 19-year-old defender Alejandro Balde (four caps). Alvaro Morata (61 caps, 30 goals) is the top scorer in this Spain team, so keep your eyes on the 30-year-old veteran striker.
Scotland – Spain: Head-to-Head
Over their previous nine encounters with Spain, the Tartan Terriers have recorded five defeats and a couple of wins and draws. Their last win over Spain came in 1984. These two foes haven’t met since 2011 when Spain beat Scotland 3-1 at home.
Scotland – Spain Odds
The Red Fury are listed as 1.70 favorites at Unibet Sportsbook which seems like a fair prize. On paper, the Red Fury own way more dangerous weapons than Scotland, and Both Teams to Score NO pays 1.68 at BetVictor Sportsbook.
Spain will dominate Scotland in the middle of the park for all 90 minutes. The Terriers will defend in numbers and look for counter-attacks. Hereof, taking Spain to win at 1.70 is a way to go. The Red Fury will be patient, knowing that one goal could decide the winner. They’ll create enough chances to break the deadlock, as Scotland’s defense is far away from an elite level.
Betting tip and prediction: Scotland – Spain (28.3.2023)