Spain vs Sweden predictions and match preview for Sunday’s decisive World Cup qualifier. Read on for expert analysis, the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as both sides target a place at the 2022 World Cup.
| Date | Sunday 14th November 2021 |
| Kick-Off | 20:45 (local time) |
| Stadium | Cartuja |
| Competition | 2022 World Cup Qualifying |
Spain vs Sweden Preview
Spain face what was always shaping up to be a decisive final group match against Sweden in their bid to reach the 2022 World Cup. The outlook is brighter for Luis Enrique’s side following Thursday’s results and they now only need a draw in this game to book their ticket to Qatar. Should Sweden win, they will win the group and send Spain into the play-offs.
The hosts will want to avoid that at all costs and should have the support of a larger crowd in Cartuja than we saw when these sides met in the same stadium at Euro 2020 in the summer. There is a much greater sense of optimism when it comes to the Spanish national team now than there was then with the teams playing out a disappointing 0-0 draw in their opening game at the Euros.
Spain would eventually ignite in that competition and they’ve also since impressed in the UEFA Nations League against elite opposition. Despite that a number of significant injuries meant many feared their trip to an improving Greece on Thursday could be a tricky one but they negotiated the test safely enough with Pablo Sarabia’s penalty the difference between the two sides on the night.
They had already received a massive boost with the news that group leaders Sweden had lost 2-0 in Georgia which enabled La Roja to leapfrog the Swedes and assume pole position as a result. Sweden have won every single home game in this group but defeats in Batumi in the week and Athens in September have to some extent derailed a very promising campaign and let Spain off the hook for their sloppiness earlier in the group.
As a result, Sweden travel hoping to avoid a third straight away defeat. Had they only needed a point, they might have fancied their chances of coming here and frustrating Spain as they did in the Euros, but at some point they have to go for this and that should create more space for the home team’s creative and attacking players to operate in. Sweden do have a certain Zlatan Ibrahimović to call upon again now alongside Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak in attack but they will require service that may be lacking in a game where Spain are sure to dominate the possession count.
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 3 Spain Wins, 1 Sweden Win, 2 Draws.
- Sweden are unbeaten in their last 3 games against Spain.
- They won the reverse fixture in this group 2-1 in Stockholm in September and also drew 0-0 in this stadium against Spain at Euro 2020.
- Spain’s last win over Sweden came via a 3-0 margin in a home Euro 2020 qualifier.
Team News
Inigo Martinez picked up a knock in Athens and is a doubt. Spain may make some changes with Dani Olmo potentially coming in for Raul De Tomas who made his debut in Greece.
Dejan Kulusevski could return for Sweden having been left on the bench in midweek. Albin Ekdal is available following a ban.
Possible Lineups
Spain: Simon – Gaya, Torres, Laporte, Carvajal – Koke, Busquets, Gavi – Olmo, Morata, Sarabia (4-3-3)
Sweden: Olsen – Olsson, Nilson, Lindelof, Krafth – Forsberg, Olsson, Ekdal, Kulusevski – Ibrahimovic, Isak (4-4-2)
Spain vs Sweden Predictions
Score Prediction: Spain 2-0 Sweden
It certainly feels as though Sweden have missed a great opportunity to go on and win this group and it’s hard to see them bouncing back from defeats in Greece and Georgia with a victory in Seville. Spain are looking as assured as ever in possession and you’d fancy they will pick Sweden off in this game with the visitors needing to throw caution to the wind at some point unless they manage to nick an early goal.
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Mark Sochon is an experienced football writer and editor of LaLiga Expert. Based in Madrid, he has covered La Liga and Spanish football for many years. He also covers Spanish and European football for Goal and Betfred, while his work has previously been published by the Guardian and World Soccer.