Morocco U23 vs Spain U23 Match Analysis & Prediction
05/08/2024 7:00 pm
After both cruised into the Paris 2024 Olympics semi-finals, Morocco U23 and Spain U23 will battle it out for a guaranteed medal on Monday, when they meet in Marseille.
Having been consigned to runners-up spot behind Egypt, who secured a 2-1 victory in the sides’ final Group C match, Spain were faced by opponents that had won all three of their matches at this summer’s Olympic Games.
Nonetheless, Santi Denia’s side were inspired by Barcelona star Fermin Lopez and strode to a 3-0 victory over Japan. Girona’s new signing Abel Ruiz, who impressed in Portugal’s Primeira Liga last season, was also on the scoresheet in Lyon, as La Roja eased into the final four.
Olympic champions on home turf in 1992, Spain then reached the gold medal match at Sydney 2000, and they are ultimately looking to go one better than three years ago in Japan, when they lost to Brazil in the final.
A team featuring Eric Garcia – who is back in the squad after coming so close three years ago – also hope to emulate the success of Spain’s senior team at Euro 2024.
However, if they are to make it a golden summer by taking top spot on the Paris podium, they must first get past Morocco – then either Egypt or hosts France will await in the final.
Of course, Tarik Sektioui’s squad will have other ideas, as Morocco’s Olympic team follow on from the national side by making it to a major semi-final.
Captain of the Atlas Lions this summer, Achraf Hakimi played a major part in their memorable run to the latter stages of Qatar 2022, and the Paris Saint-Germain star was back on familiar turf for Friday’s quarter-final tie with the United States.
The flying full-back even scored as his team dominated the Americans in front of a partisen crowd at Parc des Princes, with top scorer Soufiane Rahimi putting them ahead from the penalty spot before Ilias Akhomach and Hakimi added two more.
Mehdi Maouhoub’s stoppage-time spot kick then sealed the win, and having previously topped Group B ahead of Argentina, Morocco are strong contenders to go all the way to Friday’s final.
Winners of last year’s Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations, where they beat Egypt to take the trophy, they could face a possible re-match with the Pharaohs in the gold medal game – but a strong Spain side stand in their way.
Morocco U23 vs. Spain U23 Head to head
In the only previous two meetings between these two teams, Spain have claimed one win while they have drawn once.
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20/09/2000Spain U232Morocco U230Olympics
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01/08/2012Spain U230Morocco U230Olympics
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05/08/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
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05/08/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
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05/08/2024Morocco U23N/ASpain U23N/AOlympics
Morocco U23 Team News
Morocco’s attack is spearheaded by Rahimi, who has scored five goals in four games so far, and Akhomach and Abde Ezzalzouli should line up either side of the Al-Ain striker.
Rahimi is one of three overage players in an otherwise U23 squad, with the most prominent being Hakimi; central-defensive paring Mehdi Boukamir and Oussama El Azzouzi will join him in a back four.
Morocco U23's Last 5 Matches
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22/03/2024Morocco U230Ukraine U231U23 National Team Friendlies
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24/07/2024Argentina U231Morocco U232Olympics
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27/07/2024Ukraine U232Morocco U231Olympics
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30/07/2024Morocco U233Iraq U230Olympics
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02/08/2024Morocco U234United States U230Olympics
Spain U23 Team News
Having switched up his squad for Spain’s group-stage defeat to Egypt, Denia reverted to his strongest starting XI on Friday, bringing Juan Miranda, Eric Garcia, Alex Baena and several others back in.
Barcelona prodigy Pau Cubarsi also returned after serving a suspension, while PSG’s Arnau Tenas starts in goal and Abel Ruiz should lead the line up front.
Spain U23's Last 5 Matches
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07/08/2021Brazil U23E 2Spain U231Olympics
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24/07/2024Uzbekistan U231Spain U232Olympics
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27/07/2024Dominican Republic U231Spain U233Olympics
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30/07/2024Spain U231Egypt U232Olympics
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02/08/2024Japan U230Spain U233Olympics
Morocco U23 vs. Spain U23: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Spain or X
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