Morocco vs Portugal Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips – 2022 World Cup: Who Will Win?

💯 Morocco vs Portugal Betting Odds

Just moments after Portugal completed their 6-1 thrashing of the Swiss, sportsbooks throughout Ireland and the UK were publishing their odds on their upcoming quarterfinal clash with Morocco.

These odds were published across a broad range of betting markets, including match winner, both sides to score and the over/under market for total goals scored in the game. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of each one.

🏅 Morocco vs Portugal Odds: Match Winner

Match betting remains one of the simplest and most popular markets offered by our betting sites, so here’s a look at the initial Morocco vs Portugal odds!

Morocco to Win	5.80	4.50	4.50	6.00	6.00	5.00	5.00
Portugal to Win	1.68	1.57	1.57	1.62	1.62	1.73	1.73
Draw	3.80	3.87	3.80	3.60	3.60	3.60	3.60

⚽ Morocco vs Portugal Odds: Both Teams to Score

You can bet on both sides to score with our recommended sportsbooks, or hedge against this outcome depending on how you think the match is likely to pan out. Here’s the latest prices pertaining to this market.

Yes	2.00	1.95	1.95	2.10	2.10	1.87	2.10
No	1.67	1.67	1.67	1.75	1.75	1.83	1.67

🥅 Morocco vs Portugal Odds: Over/Under 2.5 Goals

So far, the 56 games played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup have yielded 148 goals, at an average of 2.64 per match. This makes the over/under market for goals scored intriguing, with the most popular threshold set at 2.5 goals. Here’s the latest odds for the over/under market when Morocco play Portugal.

Over 2.5 Goals	2.18	2.00	1.95	2.05	2.10	1.95	2.05
Under 2.5 Goals	1.73	1.62	1.62	1.70	1.70	1.80	1.70

🏠 Morocco Preview

Morocco have established themselves as the surprise package of the 2022 World Cup to date, with the North African nation having remained unbeaten throughout despite taking on Croatia, Belgium and Spain (along with minnows Canada).

They kick started their 2022 campaign with a credible 0-0 draw against 2018 finalists Croatia, in a match where they largely dominated and outran their more established rivals. Then, the Atlas Lions really showcased their mettle, outlasting Belgium’s so-called “golden generation” in a 2-0 win at the same Al Thumama Stadium where they’ll do battle with Portugal.

This put the Moroccans in pole position to qualify from Group E, and a subsequent 2-1 win over Canada earned the CAF nation its second round of 16 appearance at the finals and first since Mexico 1986.

Incredibly, the Atlas Lions then upset the odds once again to reach their maiden World Cup quarterfinals, nullifying a toothless Spain for 120 minutes before ousting them 3-0 in a penalty shootout. Goalkeeper ‘Bono’ made two crucial saves from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets, while Achraf Hakimi’s paneka to make history for a plucky Moroccan side!

📰 Latest Morocco World Cup News

☍ Portugal Preview

It’s fair to say that the Portuguese had flattered to deceive during the group stages of the Qatar World Cup, edging Ghana 3-2 and grinding out a 2-0 win over Uruguay before seeing a 1-0 lead overturned by South Korea as the AFC nation dramatically joined them in the round of 16.

These nervy and at times disjointed performances were forgotten after the second-round clash with UEFA rivals Switzerland, however, as Portugal produced 90 minutes of stunning attacking football to thrash their usually doughty opposition 6-1 at the Lusail Stadium.

This was a statement win in more ways that one, as manager Fernando Santos responded to the scrutiny of Cristiano Ronaldo’s tournament performances and the striker’s petulant response to being substituted against Korea by dropping him from the starting 11 against the Swiss. This was a seismic decision, but one that was ultimately vindicated as Ronaldo’s young and hungry replacement Gonçalo Ramos struck a sublime hattrick and led the line with distinction.

Portugal also looked more fluent and threatening in the final third than at any other point in the tournament, with Joao Felix appearing particularly liberated in the absence of Ronaldo.

📰 Latest Portugal World Cup News

🟨 The Latest Injury News and Suspensions

Morocco suffered a notable setback against Spain, when central defender Nayef Aguerd (who plies his trade for West Ham United) was withdrawn in the second half with what appeared to be a recurrence of the ankle injury that kept him out for two months at the beginning of the season.

This has yet to be confirmed, but having left the field in tears in the 80th minute, he seems unlikely to be fit for the quarterfinal clash with Portugal.

Both Jawad El Yamiq (Valladolid) and Badr Benoun (Qatar SC) are in contention to replace Aguerd in Doha, although this pair is relatively inexperienced at international level and have just 13 caps between them.

The goods news is that Morocco’s squad is otherwise fully fit and available, with Hakim Ziyech, Sofyan Amrabat and Sofiane Boufal all having returned for the round of 16 clash having rested during the final group stage match against Canada.

As for Portugal, the versatile midfielder-cum-central defender Danilo remains sidelined having broken his ribs in training earlier in the tournament, with Pepe (who became the oldest ever scorer in the knockout stage of the World Cup against the Swiss) set to continue at centre back at the tender age of 39.

The Portuguese are otherwise at full strength, with Otavio having made an impressive return from injury against Switzerland and provided the perfect foil for the talented trio of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Joao Felix.

Of course, the big question that remains is whether or not Ronaldo will return to the starting 11, but this seems inconceivable given Ramos’ hattrick and his impressive performance throughout.

🏆 Key Matchups

If Morocco are to spring another surprise against a Portuguese team with superior quality, they’ll have to win their individual battles and perform as more than the sum of their parts in Doha.

But what are the key individual duals, and how are they likely to impact on the final result? Let’s take a closer look!

Jawad El Yamiq vs Gonçalo Ramos

Prior to his surprise start against the Swiss, Gonçalo Ramos had played just 33 minutes of international football, but the 21-year-old produced a superb display that included the first hattrick of the 2022 World Cup finals and an assist for Raphaël Guerreiro goal early in the second half.

He’s almost certain to retain his starting place ahead of the legendary Ronaldo in Doha, with his pace, mobility and seemingly unerring eye for goal a potential threat for any defence.

He’ll also look to capitalise on the likely absence of Aguerd, who has been assured throughout the tournament at the heart of the Moroccan defence. Real Valladolid’s El Yamiqat is the most likely to replace Aguerd having replaced him following his injury against Spain, but starting against Portugal will represent a huge challenge for a man with just 10 international caps.

How he copes with this challenge will be key, while we should also note that Ronaldo and all of his 118 international goals could join the action from the bench at any time.

Sofiane Boufal vs Diogo Dalot

Former Southampton winger Sofiane Boufal has been a key player in Morocco’s run so far, with his direct running and willingness to attack space in behind the opposition’s defence crucial for a side that has largely played on the counterattack.

He’s likely to face the much-improved Diogo Dalot against Portugal, with the Manchester United fullback having displaced Joao Cancelo and showcased all of his defensive tenacity and willingness to get forward against Switzerland.

This could be a fascinating and telling battle, particularly with Dalot and fellow fullback Raphaël Guerreiro likely to offer width high up the pitch and leave space in behind them.

With an additional player and greater cover in central midfield as part of their compact 4-3-3 formation, this could encourage Morocco to leave Boufal a little higher when Dalot surges forward and establish him as a key attacking outlet during transitions.

Achraf Hakimi vs Joao Felix

We close with arguably the most fascinating dual, which will pit the incredibly talented (but often frustrating Joao Felix) against Morocco’s marauding right back Achraf Hakimi.

The latter’s superb paneka spot kick sealed the win against Spain, while his rampaging runs on the right-hand side have added a thrilling dimension to Morocco’s attacking play in Qatar. The PSG man also boasts immense pedigree having played for some of Europe’s top clubs, including Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.

As for Joao Felix, the Atletico Madrid man starred from the left-hand side and in the absence of Ronaldo, providing two assists and wreaking havoc with his superb dribbling and intuitive movement.

Make no mistake; him and Bruno Fernandes will continually look to drift inside from wider positions to create central overloads and disrupt Morocco’s shape, meaning that Hakimi will need help from his central midfield to win his dual. At the same time, however, he’ll have to space to attack on the right flank if Felix fails to track him, creating considerable opportunities for Morocco in attack.

⚡ Morocco vs Portugal – The Head-to-Head Statistics

These two have actually met twice before on the international stage, and it’s interesting to note that both of these encounters were World Cup finals matches.

The first occurred in Mexico 1986, which is ironically the last (and only other) tournament in which Morocco has reached the knockout stages. The two did battle in a Group F clash in Guadalajara, with Morocco prevailing 3-1 on their way to a first-place finish ahead of England (while Portugal finished bottom and were eliminated).

The two were also drawn into FIFA World Cup Group B four years ago in Russia, with Portugal edging a tight encounter 1-0 thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s fourth minute goal.

Interestingly, eight of the players who started that day in June 2018 are expected to feature in Doha at the weekend, so we should perhaps expect to see a similarly tight encounter this time around.

🥇 Morocco vs Portugal Prediction - Who Will Win?

Morocco have been impressive throughout the tournament to date, combining defensive excellence with efficient counterattacking while continuing to play with incredible intensity in front of their impassioned fans.

All of these factors are likely to be in play against Portugal, with Morocco once again expected to deploy a compact 4-3-3 formation as they look to defend with discipline and target the space left behind their opponent’s defence on the counterattack.

However, this could play into Portugal’s hands, with the side looking incredibly fluent in possession against the Swiss and causing no end of issues with the exceptional and constant movement of their forward players.

Ultimately, we’re predicting that Morocco’s run will come to an end here, as Portugal’s superior form and quality tells and the UEFA nation to reach their first WC semi-finals for 16 years.

Our Morocco vs Portugal match prediction: Portugal to win 2-0.

🔍 Our Morocco vs Portugal Betting Tips?

Unsurprisingly after their demolition of a Switzerland team ranked 15th in the world, Portugal are the football betting favourites to beat Morocco and reach the World Cup semi-finals.

However, there’s little value in straight match Morocco vs Portugal betting given then odds in play, and while you can apply a -1.5-goal handicap to the Portuguese and lengthen the average price, this is risky given the typically tight nature of World Cup knockout matches.

Because of this, we’d also bet on there being under 2.5 goals scored in the game, with this outcome currently priced at a competitive 1.80 by Ladbrokes Sports.

You can also wager on both sides not to score at 1.75 with BoyleSports, with Morocco likely to have limited opportunities to attack and heavily focused on stopping their opponents from scoring (just as they were in the goalless second round clash against Spain).

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✒️ Lewis Humphries - Sports Journalist, Tipster and Betting Expert

This Morocco vs Portugal 2022WC Prediction was written by Lewis Humphries. Lewis is a business and iGaming copywriter from the UK, who has a passion for sports betting and online casino gaming. He's reviewed some of the world's leading casino platforms, while creating blog posts and landing page content for various sports betting brands.

His content has also featured on a number of different sites, including Life Hack, Investopedia, Yahoo Finance and Business Insider. He also pens regular sports features for sites including 90 Minutes, Think Football Ideas and Sportsblog.