Seeking to make it two wins from two in World Cup qualification, Spain will welcome Georgia to the Estadio Martinez Valero on Saturday night.
After triumphing at Euro 2024 , Luis de la Fuente’s hosts head the outright betting for next year’s World Cup at a general 5/1 with most bookmakers.
It’s difficult to argue against that viewpoint given that Spain have kicked off their qualifying campaign with 3-0 and 6-0 wins away at Bulgaria and Turkey respectively.
Now on home soil for the first time in Group E on Saturday night, Spain will be expected to put another three points on the board when Georgia come calling.
Willy Sagnol’s side have made a mixed start to their campaign, starting with a 3-2 loss at home to Turkey before bouncing back with a 3-0 win over Bulgaria.
The Crusaders now face a stern test of their World Cup qualifying credentials when they come up against star-studded Spain.
How the bookies view it: Plain sailing for Spain
The bookmakers consider this to be an international mismatch, with a Spanish success as short as 1/8 with Boylesports.
Georgia are an enormous 18/1 to emerge from the Estadio Martinez Valero victorious while the draw is also considered highly unlikely at 7/1 with the same firm.
Head to head: Familiar foes
Having been housed in the same qualifying group in the lead up to Euro 2024 and then subsequently crossing paths at the tournament, Spain and Georgia have become familiar foes in recent years. Moreover, Spain have taken top honours from each of the seven competitive meetings between the pair.
Players to watch: Pedri pick appeals
With three goals and three assists across his last six appearances for Spain, Pedri holds plenty of appeal to register another goal involvement here at 20/21 on Bet365.
Georges Mikautadze netted one of Georgia’s three goals during their aforementioned 3-0 win over Bulgaria, while he also scored in Villarreal’s 3-1 loss away to Real Madrid in La Liga last weekend. The 24-year-old forward is as big as 4/1 on Bet365 to make the net bulge on Saturday night.
Predicted line-ups
Spain boss de la Fuente will be unable to call upon the services of injured duo Lamine Yamal and Rodri, with Borja Iglesias drafted into the squad replace the former.
Georgia’s already tough task on Saturday night could be made all the more difficult with the news that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is struggling with a thigh injury.
Spain: Simon; Porro, Le Normand, Huijsen, Cucurella; Merino, Zubimendi, Pedri; Torres, Oyarzabal, N Williams
Georgia: Mamardashvili; Kakabadze, Kashia, Goglichidze, Lochoshvili; Tsitaishvili, Kochkorashvili, Mekvabishvili, Davitashvili; Mikautadze, Chakvetadze
Anything else catch the eye?
Having won and kept a clean sheet in each of their opening two World Cup qualifiers, Spain warrant support to repeat the trick on Saturday night at 4/5 on Boylesports.
Alternatively, backing Spain to win alongside under 3.5 match goals also looks worthy of interest at 6/5 with Boylesports.
This bet would have paid out in Spain’s 3-0 win over Bulgaria on matchday one and a similar scoreline here is not beyond the realms of possibility.
GambleAware