Spain v Ivory Coast betting tips: Africans can test favourites
Published:
Spain v Ivory Coast betting tips and odds
The men’s Olympics tournament has reached the quarter-finals and we’re looking at two of Saturday’s matches, starting with the clash between Spain and Ivory Coast.
There have been plenty of surprises in Japan where Germany, France and Argentina were eliminated during the group stage and Ivory Coast are 6/1 to cause another shock by defeating the favourites.
A place in Tuesday’s semi-finals is up for grabs so let’s take a look at the markets and odds in our Spain v Ivory Coast betting tips.
Match Odds
Spain may be the 11/8 favourites to win the competition but they have made hard work of getting to the last eight.
Luis de la Fuente’s strong squad started with a goalless draw with Egypt and it took an 81st-minute winner from Mikel Oyarzabal to see off Australia before they got the point they needed against Argentina to qualify as group winners.
Six members of Spain’s Euro 2020 semi-final squad are in Japan and the likes of Dani Olmo, Oyarzabal, Eric Garcia, Marco Asensio, Pedri, Pau Torres, Unai Simon and Mikel Merino all started the 1-1 draw with Argentina so they have flattered to deceive.
Ivory Coast are also unbeaten with the same record as Spain, finishing as runners-up after following a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia with creditable draws against Germany and group winners Brazil.
The two-time African champions have Manchester United duo Eric Bailly and Amad Diallo, plus AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie and former Leeds forward Max Gradel in their squad and are available at 16/5 to get a draw against a Spain team priced at 4/9 to win inside 90 minutes.
Two of the Africans’ three goals have been scored by the opposition, so they have hardly been setting the world alight up front and we go 10/11 on two goals or fewer in Rifu or 10/1 on a goalless draw, with 1-1 available at 13/2 in our Spain v Ivory Coast betting tips.
All six group games involving these two nations were level at the break, so we go 6/5 on a draw while a goalless first 45 minutes is 7/4 bearing in mind that was the case in Spain’s three matches.
Talking Tactics
Spain have played a 4-3-3 throughout the tournament and De la Fuente has also rotated his captains, with 18-year-old Barcelona midfielder Pedri, the young player of the tournament at Euro 2020, the latest to wear the armband.
De la Fuente played his strongest possible team against Argentina so he could make a couple of changes for Ivory Coast, who went with a 5-4-1 against Brazil during which they benefited from a ludicrous decision to send off Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.
Soualiho Haidara trusted Youssouf Dao as the lone striker in the draws with Brazil and Germany and the Sparta Prague striker is likely to start up front again.
Match Info
Where: Miyagi Stadium, Rifu, Japan
When: 09:00, Saturday 31st July
How to watch: N/A
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
