Japan v Spain Betting Tips [2 August 2024]

Spain will face Japan in the Olympic Games quarter-finals following successful completion of their group stage assignments. Japan won Group D with nine points while Spain finished second in Group C. Follow on for the preview and a prediction of this match.

Japan will have revenge on their minds as they meet Spain for the first time since Tokyo 2020. Back then, in the semi-finals, Spain won 1-0 denying hosts Japan a place in the final. With three straight wins in their group, Japan will feel very confident about their chances here.

They not only finished with maximum points but also kept clean sheets in all the matches. In the last two they won each by a solitary goal, after crushing Paraguay 5-0 in Round 1. Japan are on an eight-game unbeaten run, having won seven of the matches.

Finalists three years ago, Spain will be looking to go one better in Paris. This will be the third meeting at the Olympic Games pitting these two teams, and also the third competitive match between them. Japan won their first, 1-0 in London 2012.

No team has scored more than a goal in their three meetings to date. Spain paid the price for heavily rotating in their last group game. They had to settle for second spot after their loss to Egypt in Round 3, Samu Omorodion scoring a late consolation in the 2-1 defeat.

That goal meant Spain have now scored in each of their last eight matches. Both sides, however, scored in Spain’s last four matches and they have just one clean sheet in seven matches. The winner here will face the winner in the Morocco v USA game.

Spain will be reinstating a fresher pool of players when they return to action after resting in the loss to Egypt. A recovered group should be able to push Japan as much as possible, but Japan will be out to show they can compete.

The Asian nation may have failed to keep a clean sheet in two meetings with Spain but remain a tough team to face. Their mental toughness and getting to face a well-rested Spain will be key points of discussion in this game. Our prediction for Japan U23 v Spain U23 is for Japan to win and both teams to score.