- Canada have scored 9 goals in their last 5 matches.
- Morocco have scored 10 goals in their last 5 matches.
Tight, cagey affair expected at Houston Stadium
Two of the form teams in their respective confederations meet in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup when Canada take on Morocco at Houston Stadium on Saturday.
The Lions of Atlas will be the slight favourites to win this one on the day, but the value is likely to lie elsewhere because Morocco should have enough to get a result at odds of 97/100.
Canada are 337/100 to get the better of the Africans that beat them 2-1 in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, but we think the odds favour the Moroccans for the win this time around.
Morocco's consistency and momentum carry the day
Jesse Marsch's side play a compact 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 system that features a high-trigger press and fast transitions that have been effective for Canada on their day.
They have won four, drawn five and lost one of their last ten games across all competitions, so have been tough to beat, but not ruthless enough to leave opponents in the dust.
Morocco are a consistent team that Mohamed Ouahbi has set up to be equally compact and flexible in a back-four shape, so this is a classic press vs block match-up.
The Lions of the Atlas have kept their momentum rolling with three consecutive wins, the latest being the 4-2 win over Haiti followed by a 2-1 away scalp of the Netherlands.
That result made it seven wins and three draws from their last ten matches across all competitions and we're backing them to keep up that impressive record on Saturday.
David vs Saibari - the goal threat
Morocco have won three and drawn one of their last four away games in the World Cup and have averaged 1.75 goals per game while conceding an average of 0.50 goals across those games.
Canada's away form in their most recent matches is one win, one draw and one defeat, so Morocco look more likely to come out on top.
Canada have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five in all competitions with Jonathan David scoring three goals to give the Canucks a livewire up front. Morocco have hit ten in their last five with Ismael Saibari netting three to give them their own goal threat.
