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Morocco 0-0 Spain (3-0 P): Match report, player ratings, expert analysis, fan reaction and more


Spain headed into the game as favourites to come out on top. And when all was said and done.

Luis Enrique’s side started well and controlled play for the most part. However, Morocco did counter well and tested Spain’s defence in the early stages.

Spain had the first big chance of the game 25 minutes in, hitting the crossbar before the rebound was flagged for offside.

Minutes later, Marco Asensio beat the offside trap but hit the side netting.

Noussair Mazraoui then had Morocco’s first shot on target 32 minutes in from outside the box, but it was saved easily.

The African outfit continued to sit deep and hit Spain on the counter but were unable to find a breakthrough in the first 45.

Spain’s grip on the tie continued to diminish into the second half, with Morocco creating more and more on the break despite Spain still having a lot of the ball.

Luis Enrique then made several changes to try and add some much-needed attacking threat to his side, with Alvaro Morata smashing the ball across the goal line shortly after coming on.

Uni Simon nearly cost Spain the tie late in injury time with a poor touch but he got away with it and that was the final big moment of normal time.

This was followed by Walid Cheddira being put through on goal early in extra time before scuffing his chance.

Cheddira then should have scored 14 minutes into ET but he hit his chance straight at Simon.

Neither side was able to find a goal in extra time, meaning the tie would be decided by penalties.

Spain missed their first three penalties with Morocco scoring two. Hakimi then score the winner with a panenka.


Player Ratings

Morocco

  • GK: Yassine Bounou (8)
  • RB: Achraf Hakimi (7.5)
  • CB: Romain Saïss (6.5)
  • CB: Nayef Aguerd (7)
  • LB: Noussair Mazraoui (6.5)
  • CM: Azzedine Ounahi (6.5)
  • CM: Sofyan Amrabat (7)
  • CM: Selim Amallah (6)
  • RW: Hakim Ziyech (6)
  • ST: Youssef En-Nesyri (6)
  • LW: Sofiane Boufal (6.5)

Substitutes:

  • Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (6)
  • Yahia Attiyat Allah (5.5)
  • Abdelhamid Sabiri (6)
  • Walid Cheddira (4)
  • Jawad El Yamiq (5)
  • Badr Benoun (N/A)

Spain

  • GK: Unai Simon (5.5)
  • RB: Marcos Llorente (6.5)
  • CB: Rodri (7)
  • CB: Aymeric Laporte (7)
  • LB: Jordi Alba (6)
  • CDM: Sergio Busquets (
  • CM: Gavi (6.5)
  • CM: Pedri (6)
  • RW: Marco Asensio (6)
  • ST: Ferran Torres (6)
  • LW: Dani Olmo (6)

Substitutes

  • Alavaro Morata (6.5)
  • Carlos Soler (6)
  • Nico Williams (7)
  • Ansu Fati (6)
  • Alejandro Balde (5.5)
  • Pablo Sarabia (2)

Match reaction

Ben Browning

Ben Browning

Football writer and analyst. Long-time writer of all things Arsenal and avid watcher of European football. Happy to discuss all things football over on Twitter.


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