Morocco v Portugal World Cup predictions: Bullish Portugal can tame Atlas Lions

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Morocco v Portugal in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

Where to watch

ITV1, 3pm Saturday

Morocco v Portugal World Cup match predictions

Portugal to win & under 3.5 goals
3pts 6-5 BoyleSports, Coral

Morocco expended plenty of energy on their way to a penalty-shootout win over Spain on Tuesday and Portugal, buoyed by their 6-1 drubbing of Switzerland, have the attacking talent to break down an impressive Moroccan defence.

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Match preview

Portugal swaggered into the World Cup quarter-finals with a 6-1 rout of Switzerland in the last 16 but they can expect a very different contest against dangerous underdogs Morocco.

The Atlas Lions kept clean sheets against 2018 runners-up Croatia and Belgium, semi-finalists in Russia four years ago, as they defied odds of 11-1 to win Group F.

Their defence stood firm again in the last-16 tie with Spain, who had more than 75 per cent of possession but mustered only one shot on target in a goalless 120 minutes before losing the penalty shootout 3-0.

Morocco's success against La Roja featured a seventh clean sheet in their last eight internationals and the only goal they have conceded during that run was an own goal from Nayef Aguerd in the 2-1 group win over Canada.

The West Ham centre-back came off injured against Spain and is unlikely to feature in the quarter-final while fellow defender Romain Saiss, who scored in the 2-0 win over Belgium, was also in some discomfort at the end of Tuesday's epic last-16 triumph.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui may be forced into making some personnel changes at the back but his gameplan is likely to be the same one that frustrated Croatia, Belgium and Spain.

There will be no shortage of motivation for the outsiders, who are bidding to become the first African side to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup after Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) were all beaten at the last-eight stage.

A large Moroccan contingent is expected at the Al Thumama Stadium but that may not be enough to rattle a Portugal side who are oozing with confidence after their cathartic demolition of Switzerland last time out.

After some scratchy performances in the group, including a tense 3-2 win over Ghana and a 2-1 defeat to South Korea, Portugal's veteran coach Fernando Santos dropped Cristiano Ronaldo for the last-16 tie.

That decision provoked a predictably hysterical reaction but Santos must have taken great pleasure from the fact that Ronaldo's replacement, 21-year-old Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, scored a smartly-taken hat-trick.

There is some outstanding attacking talent in the Portugal squad and Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix and Bernardo Silva have all impressed during their run to the last eight.

With Ramos offering a more mobile focal point to the attack than Ronaldo, they should find a way through a Morocco defence who produced a mammoth effort against Spain so backing Portugal to win in a match featuring under 3.5 goals is a tempting bet.

Key stat

Morocco have conceded only one goal in their last eight internationals.

Team news

Morocco
Romain Saiss (hamstring) is a slight doubt and fellow centre-back Nayef Aguerd is unlikely to feature after suffering a groin injury in the win over Spain.

Portugal
Goncalo Ramos should start up front instead of Cristiano Ronaldo after his hat-trick against Switzerland but Danilo Pereira remains a doubt after missing the last-16 victory. Youngster Nuno Mendes (thigh) is out of the tournament.

Probable teams

Morocco (4-3-3) Bounou; Hakimi, Yamiq, Saiss, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal.

Portugal (4-3-3) Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Otavio, Carvalho, B Silva; Fernandes, Ramos, Felix

Inside info

Morocco

Top scorer in probable team Youssef En-Nesyri
Star player Achraf Hakimi
Penalty taker Sofiane Boufal
Assist ace Achraf Hakimi
Set-piece aerial threat Romain Saiss
Card magnet Sofyan Amrabat

Portugal

Top scorer in probable team Bruno Fernandes
Star player Bruno Fernandes
Penalty taker Bruno Fernandes
Assist ace Bernardo Silva
Set-piece aerial threat Ruben Dias
Card magnet Pepe

Morocco v Portugal Bet Builder

Portugal to win in 90 minutes
Morocco frustrated Spain on Tuesday but Portugal's pacy, direct attacking unit should be too good for them

More goals scored in second half
Portugal's games at this tournament have featured 17 goals, 13 of which came after half-time

Bruno Fernandes to score at any time
With Cristiano Ronaldo unlikely to start, set-piece ace Fernandes can add to his tally of two goals at this World Cup

Price guide 9-1 with bet365