Morocco vs Portugal Match Analysis & Prediction
10/12/2022 6:00 pm
As the World Cup trophy comes closer into sight, trailblazers Morocco go head to head with quarter-final opponents Portugal at the Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday.
Now set to battle it out for for a place in the final four, the Atlas Lions held off Spain before winning on penalties to reach this stage for the first time, while Portugal were a side transformed as they beat Switzerland in the last 16.
Becoming just the fourth African nation to reach the last eight at a World Cup, Morocco sent a packed Education City Stadium wild, as it was largely populated by Moroccan fans whose fervour has proved scuh a prominent feature of these finals.
Morocco’s only previous apprearance in the last 16 came back in 1986, and Walid Regragui’s side have not only broken new ground for their nation but also the Arab world. They also extended an unbeaten run in the World Cup to five matches and kept an impressive sixth clean sheet from their last seven matches.
Fending off members of the European establishment such as Croatia and Belgium also saw the Atlas Lions finish first in Group F earlier on in the campaign, so facing Portugal should hold no fears for Morocco.
Fernando Santos enjoyed perhaps his greatest victory since 2016’s European Championship success this week, when Portugal stormed past Switzerland and into the last eight of Qatar 2022.
Having lashed home an unstoppable opener, Goncalo Ramos went on to complete a hat-trick in Portugal’s 6-1 victory, and his was the first treble of the competition, on his very first senior start. The 21-year old was Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement.
Despite a late lapse against South Korea when already qualified, Santos had seen his side negotiate safe passage through the World Cup’s first stage as Group H winners, and with three victories and 12 goals to their name already, Portugal may well believe they can now lift the trophy for the very first time.
Portugal have more recently belied their relatively modest population to win both the Euros and Nations League, and Saturday’s clash with Morocco presents a chance to take one step closer to the game’s grandest prize.
Morocco vs. Portugal Head to head
These two nations have previosly met on just two occasions in the World Cup , where they each won once, with Morocco scoring three goals while Portugal has two.
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12/06/1986Portugal1Morocco3World Cup
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20/06/2018Portugal1Morocco0World Cup
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10/12/2022N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
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10/12/2022N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
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10/12/2022MoroccoN/APortugalN/AWorld Cup
Morocco Team News
Walid Regragui has several fitness concerns about some integral cogs in his squad, none more so than West Ham United defender Nayef Aguerd, who was taken off during the victory over Spain.
Captain Romain Saiss completed the game against Spain with strapping to his leg, while Sofyan Amrabat played through pain with a back problem
Morocco's Last 5 Matches
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03/11/2022Morocco3Georgia0Friendlies
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23/11/2022Morocco0Croatia0World Cup
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27/11/2022Belgium0Morocco2World Cup
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01/12/2022Canada1Morocco2World Cup
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06/12/2022Morocco(P)0Spain0World Cup
Portugal Team News
Fernando Santos omitted Joao Cencelo against Switzerland, favouring Raphael Guerreiro at left-back and Diogo Dalot on the right, and that selection may remain unchanged.
Otavio should continue in midfield, while William Carvalho hopes to hold off the challenge of Ruben Neved to retain his place in the midfield.
Portugal's Last 5 Matches
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17/11/2022Portugal4Nigeria0Friendlies
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24/11/2022Portugal3Ghana3World Cup
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28/11/2022Portugal2Uruguay0World Cup
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02/12/2022Korea Republic2Portugal1World Cup
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06/12/2022Portugal6Switzerland1World Cup
Morocco vs. Portugal: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Portugal or X
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