Spain vs Scotland predictions: European Championship qualification tips and odds

Our betting expert has three Spain vs Scotland tips for the European Championship Group A qualifier at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville on Thursday (kick-off, 7.45pm BST). Scroll down to see the analysis behind his selections.

Spain vs Scotland betting tips

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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Goals to flow in southern Spain

First meets second in Group A but few would have predicted at the outset of qualifying that Scotland would be the nation looking down from the summit at this stage.

Steve Clarke’s side have been the surprise package of the competition, winning all five matches to date, a run that includes a memorable 2-0 victory over Spain at Hampden Park in March.

They lead by six points and will qualify for next summer’s finals in Germany with a win in Seville, but Spain have a game in hand and victories here and against Norway on Sunday would take them top.

Both sides have scored freely, Spain netting 16 in four qualifiers and Scotland 12 in five, eight of them coming from midfielders Scott McTominay and John McGinn.

Both teams have scored in two of the past three meetings between the countries and we’re backing that outcome again here.

Spain vs Scotland tip 1: Both teams to score @ 13/10 with BetMGM

Morata the danger man 

Former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata scored a hat-trick for Spain in their 7-1 victory in Georgia last month and could be the man Scotland need to stop on Thursday.

Morata appears to be back to his best for Atletico Madrid this season and has scored five goals in seven La Liga appearances, while his international record is consistent, with 33 goals in 66 matches.

Scotland conceded three against England in a recent friendly, when they were brought back down to earth against some exceptional forwards.

They are still susceptible at the back and we expect Morata to get on the scoresheet when the two teams meet on Thursday.

Spain vs Scotland tip 2: Alvaro Morata to score any time @ 57/50 with BetMGM

McGinn not afraid of a challenge

John McGinn has been an important player for Aston Villa and Scotland in recent seasons and his combative midfield play doesn’t go unnoticed.

He’s a regular for Unai Emery as well as Steve Clarke not just for his ability on the ball but also his ability to break-up play when out of possession.

This can lead to him ending up in the referee’s notebook on occasion, as he has done in his last two matches for Villa.

Over the three seasons before the current one, McGinn picked up 27 yellow cards in the Premier League and, in a massive match for Scotland on Thursday, another would come as no surprise.

Spain vs Scotland tip 3: John McGinn to be carded @ 13/5 with BetMGM

Spain vs Scotland odds

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Spain team news 

Barcelona’s 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal is out of this fixture with a hip injury while clubmate Pedri and Dani Olmo of RB Leipzig are also absentees.

Spain predicted line-up (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Balde; Merino, Rodri, Gavi; Torres, Morata, N Williams.

Scotland team news

Ryan Jack and Kevin Nisbet are missing through injury but Scotland’s biggest loss comes in the form of Kieran Tierney who is out with a hamstring problem.

Scotland predicted line-up (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Porteous, Hendry, Cooper; Hickey, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson; McTominay, McGinn; Adams.

Last five results

Spain

Sep 12 EC Spain 6 Cyprus 0 W

Sep 08 EC Georgia 1 Spain 7 W

June 18 NL Croatia 0 Spain 0 (pen: 4-5) W

June 15 NL Spain 2 Italy 1 W

Mar 28 EC Scotland 2 Spain 0 L

Scotland

Sep 12 FR Scotland 1 England 3 L

Sep 08 EC Cyprus 0 Scotland 3 W

June 20 EC Scotland 2 Georgia 0 W

June 17 EC Norway 1 Scotland 2 W

Mar 28 EC Scotland 2 Spain 0 W

EC European Championship qualifying NL Nations League FR Friendly