Spain will be looking to overtake Sweden at the top of Group B standings when they make a trip to Toumba Stadium to take on Greece in the seventh group fixtures on Thursday night with kickoff at 22:45.
Both sides have chances of qualifying to the World Cup but Greece’s automatic qualification is out of question now following the 2-0 defeat at the hands of group leaders Sweden in their last qualifying fixture. The defeat left the Greeks occupying the third spot on nine points with six points behind the Swedes who face a lowly Georgia in this week’s qualifiers.
However, Greece still stand a chance of claiming a playoff spot finish as they only sit four points behind their Thursday’s opponents who face Sweden in their final qualifying match. Hence, this a must win match for the Greeks who are in a good form having only lost two of their last 15 matches across all competitions and it has been two years since Greece last lost a match on their home soil.
Therefore, Van ’t Schip’s side will be looking to maintain their solid home momentum in this fixture as they aim at keeping their qualifying hopes alive.
Meanwhile, Spain will still advance to the playoffs even if they were to drop out of the top two due to their Nations League ranking. However, Luis Enrique will not be considering this scenario and will still be eyeing the automatic qualification, meaning, will come into this clash ready to break Greece’s formidable home form.
Spain head into the match in a good form having only lost one of their last four matches across all competitions and will be looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to France in the Nations League final. Prior to the defeat La Roja broke Italy’s long undefeated run with a 2-1 win and will be building on that.
Greece vs Spain head to head
Both sides have met six encounters since 2002 with Spain claiming three victories while Greece have managed one victory and there have been two draws.
- Spain 1-1 Greece 25/03/21
- Greece 1-2 Spain 18/06/08
- Greece 2-3 Spain 22/08/07
- Greece 1-1 Spain 16/06/04
- Spain 0-1 Greece 07/06/03
Home
- Sweden 2-0 Greece
- Georgia 0-2 Greece
- Greece 2-1 Sweden
- Kosovo 1-1 Greece
- Switzerland 2-1 Greece
Away
- Spain 1-2 France
- Italy 1-2 Spain
- Kosovo 0-2 Spain
- Spain 4-0 Georgia
- Sweden 2-1 Spain
Greece team news
Greece will be without Pantelis Chatzidiakos and Anastasios Bakasetas due to suspensions.
Spain team news
Spain will be without several keyplayers due to injuries including Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati, Gerard Moreno, Yeremi Pino and Mikel Oyarzabal.
Prediction and odds
- Draw
- Spain win
- Double chance
