After beating the United States, Morocco are now one win away from guaranteeing a medal at the Paris Olympics, but a formidable foe stands in their way as they face a tough Spain on Monday. The Atlas Lions have gone straight from a strong performance at the World Cup to their youth and are showing that the next generation is in good hands as their U-23s plus Achraf Hakimi put on a show at the Olympics.
Here are our storylines, how to watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Monday August 5 | Time: 12:00 PM ET
- Place: Orange Velodrome — Marseille, France
- TV: Telemundo | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
- Chances: Morocco +235; Sign +190; Spain +107
Storylines
Morocco: Led by Soufiane Rahimi, the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, the attack has become an unexpected force for Morocco. The Atlas Lions are usually a stout defensive side and have been able to use Amir Richardson’s ball progression in midfield to link Hakimi with a talented attack. It has paid off as Rahimi has already set a record for goals scored by a Moroccan at the Olympics, but he doesn’t want to stop there with a chance to also secure the first medal in their country’s history.
Spain: With Spain’s women making progress at the Olympics, there is still a chance for Spain to capture gold at both ends of the tournament. After a comprehensive defeat by Japan in the final round, Spain was one of the most complete teams in the tournament. Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez has been a star in keeping the attack moving forward, but Morocco cannot lose sight of anyone in this squad or they risk falling behind quickly.
Prediction
Morocco’s impressive run will end with a defeat against one of Europe’s elite countries. Choose: Morocco 1, Spain 2
