The host team Russia has managed to reach the Round of 16 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup where they will meet one-time champion Spain at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, as the clash is set for this Sunday, July 1st, 2018. The bookies favor the Red Fury at -164 to win the match, but can Sbornaya upset the odds with a tremendous support from the stands?
Spain vs. Russia
3-Way: 1: Spain -164; X: +290 Draw; 2: Russia +550 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: Spain +114; Russia -125
Total +2.5: Over +110; Under -143
Both Teams to Score Yes/No: +110/-152
SPAIN
The Red Fury had a difficult time in the Group B, and it was almost on the verge of knocking-out of the tournament in the last game against Morocco trailing 2-1 with just ten minutes on the clock. Iago Aspas goal sealed the Red Fury’s spot in the last 16, but their fans are quite nervous ahead of the knock-out stage in Russia. In the opener, Spain drew with Portugal 3-3, while in the second game, Fernando Hierro’s boys overcame Iran 1-0, but they were so lucky to get this victory.
Besides the clash with Portugal, the Red Fury has mostly struggled to create scoring opportunities, and its’ attacking flow hasn’t looked sharp enough for the second strongest favorite to beat the 2018 World Cup. Likewise, the defensive work was pretty lousy, particularly in the game with Morocco, whilst the keeper David De Gea made some unusual mistakes in the opening clash against the Portuguese. The playmaker Isco and the striker Diego Costa both are playing in a good form, but the rest of the team is way off the standard.
- Spain is at +400 to lift the World Cup Trophy in Russia
- Spain is at -125 to reach the Semi-Finals
RUSSIA
The hosts cruised past Saudi Arabia and Egypt in their first two games in the Group A, beating the Green Falcons 5-0 in the opening clash of the 2018 World Cup, and Egypt 3-1 in the second-round match. However, they were thrashed by Uruguay 3-0 in the final game of the group stage, so Sbornaya has finished at the second spot of the Group A table that led to Spain in the knock-out phase.
The head coach Stanislav Cherchesov surprised everyone with a 4-5-1 formation, despite he was mostly using three players at the back in the friendlies prior to the tournament, and it worked quite well in the first two games. The talismanic midfielder Alan Dzagoev suffered a hamstring injury against Saudi Arabia, but his replacement Denis Cheryshev bagged a brace in the opener, scoring one more goal against Egypt. The talented playmaker Aleksandr Golovin is having a wonderful tournament so far, orchestrating the play from the midfield, while the powerhouse forward Artem Dzyuba should be a great danger in Spain’s box.
- Russia is at +6600 to beat the 2018 World Cup
- Russia is at +800 to make it to the last four
Spain vs. Russia – Match and Odds Breakdown
Spain definitely needs to improve as soon as possible if wants to satisfy the odds at the 2018 World Cup. But if the Red Fury replicates the performance from the group stage, it could find itself in a huge problem against motivated host side. Russia will surely have a massive support from the stands, and Stanislav Cherchesov’s boys proved they can play an attacking soccer and score some goals, so Sbornaya certainly stands a chance in this one.
However, I think Spain will play much better than in the group phase, so I will go with the Red Fury to cover the spread at -1, while on the odds are at +170 on a spread at -1.5. Wagering on the totals could be a tricky job, as we could see a patient approach on both sides, but you never know with the Red Fury. The bettors can check out all the lines and markets on BetDSI Sportsbook, as they will cover all games in Russia until the end of the 2018 World Cup.
The Pick: Spain AH -1 (+114)
