Euro 2020

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Attendance: 49,712

Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage

Oct 15, 2019 at 7.45pm UK

Sweden
1-1
Spain

Berg (50')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Rodrigo (92')

Preview: Sweden vs. Spain - prediction, team news, lineups

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 13 October 2019

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Euro 2020 qualifier between Sweden and Spain, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Group F's top two teams will lock horns at the Friends Arena in Solna on Tuesday night as Sweden welcome Spain for a key Euro 2020 qualification match.

Spain currently lead the section with 19 points - five points ahead of second-placed Sweden with three games to play. As a result, a point would be enough for La Roja to book their spot in the finals of next summer's tournament.

Match preview

Spain's Marco Asensio in action with Sweden's Emil Forsberg in their Euro 2020 qualifier on June 10, 2019 © Reuters

Four wins, two draws and one defeat - that is how Sweden have performed in Group F thus far. A total of 14 points has left them in second spot in the group, some five points off section leaders Spain.

Janne Andersson's side did not really need to break a sweat in their last qualifier away to Malta on Saturday, recording a comfortable 4-0 win to ensure that they would enter this game off the back of a positive result.

Sweden beat Romania and Malta in addition to drawing with Norway in their first three group games before suffering a 3-0 defeat in Spain on June 10. Their results since then have been good, though, recording victories over the Faroe Islands and Malta, in addition to drawing once again with Norway.

Sweden will travel to Romania and host the Faroe Islands in their last two games after this one. First spot in the group looks to be gone, but it would be a surprise if they did not qualify for the finals of Euro 2020 having been present in each of the last five European Championships.

That said, the Blue and Yellows have only made it out of the groups on one occasion in their last five participations, reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 before losing to the Netherlands on spot kicks.

Spain coach Robert Moreno on October 12, 2019 © Reuters

Spain missed the chance to book their spot in the finals of Euro 2020 with three games to spare as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Norway on Saturday. Saul Niguez sent Robert Moreno's side ahead on the night, but Norway claimed a point courtesy of a late penalty from Bournemouth's Joshua King.

A victory would have secured qualification, but a point against Sweden on Tuesday night would be enough. The draw against Norway actually brought to an end a seven-game winning run for La Roja, who will host Malta and Romania in their final two group games next month.

The squad is almost unrecognisable at the moment with a number of players left out for various reasons. Mikel Oyarzabal, Rodrigo Moreno and Dani Ceballos actually started as the front three against Norway, which is an indication of how things have changed in the current set-up.

Spain famously won back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012 before exiting in the round of 16 in the 2016 competition. It has been a disappointing few years at international level when also taking into account their under-par displays in the last two World Cups.

It is difficult to write off La Roja considering their immense talent, though, and Moreno will have the opportunity to try out new things in their final two qualifiers should Tuesday night go as planned.

Sweden form: DWLWDW

Spain form: WWWWWD

Team News

Spain captain Sergio Ramos celebrates scoring against Faroe Islands in their Euro 2020 qualifier on June 7, 2019 © Reuters

Sweden boss Andersson has no fresh injury concerns from the team that comfortably overcame Malta.

There are not expected to be many alterations from that match, with Marcus Berg and Robin Quaison set to continue as the front two in a 4-4-2 formation.

Emil Forsberg and Sebastian Larsson are both expected to feature in the wide midfield berths, although Manchester United's Victor Lindelof could come into the XI after sitting out the clash with Malta.

As for Spain, the likes of Jordi Alba, Jose Gaya, Isco, Dani Parejo and Paco Alcacer are not in the current squad, while Alvaro Morata was also somewhat surprisingly left out.

As mentioned, Oyarzabal, Rodrigo and Ceballos started as a front three against Norway, but Robert Moreno does have a number of attacking options in the shape of Pablo Sarabia, Luis Alberto and Gerard Moreno.

There is a chance that the latter could be handed a spot in the team as no player in La Liga has managed more goals than the Villarreal striker in the early stages of the 2019-20 campaign.

Dani Carvajal is also pushing for a return, while Inigo Martinez could come in for Raul Albiol at the back.

The bulk of the XI is expected to remain the same, though, with Sergio Ramos, Sergio Busquets, Saul and Fabian Ruiz among those who should keep their positions.

Sweden possible starting lineup: Olsen; Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Bengtsson; Larsson, Olsson, Ekdal, Forsberg; Berg, Quaison

Spain possible starting lineup: Kepa; Carvajal, I Martinez, Ramos, Bernat; Ruiz, Busquets, Saul; Rodrigo, G Moreno, Oyarzabal

We say: Sweden 1-2 Spain

Spain's result and performance against Norway on Saturday will have given Sweden huge confidence ahead of the match. La Roja will be desperate to return to winning ways, though, and we just fancy the visitors to pick up all three points at the Friends Arena courtesy of a 2-1 victory.