Morocco vs Spain live: World Cup score, highlights, result from 2022 Round of 16 match as Morata goes close

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Spain’s bid to return to the summit of the world game has seen them paired with Morocco in the Qatar 2022 Round of 16, after Luis Enrique’s side surprisingly finished second in Group E.

A shock 2-1 defeat to Japan in their final group game — the Samurai Blue’s second upset win of the group after beating Germany in their opener — edged La Roja off top spot, and they now take on Group F winners Morocco in the first knockout stage.

The North Africans have been one of the surprise packages in Qatar, with Walid Regragui’s team reaching the Round of 16 for the first time since 1986.

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Morocco vs Spain at the 2022 World Cup. Follow for complete results from the Round of 16 match in Qatar.

MORE: How to watch Morocco vs Spain

Morocco vs Spain score

  1H 2H Final
Morocco 0 — —
Spain 0 — —

Goals:
None

Confirmed lineups:

Morocco lineup (4-3-3): 1. Bono (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Aguerd (18. El Yamiq 85′), 6. Saiss, 3. Mazraoui (25. Attiyat Allah 82′) — 8. Ounahi, 4. Amrabat, 15. Amallah (21. Cheddira 82′) — 7. Ziyech, 19. En-Nesyri (11. Sabbiri 82′), 17. Boufal (16. Ezzalzouli 66′)

Spain lineup (4-3-3): 23. Simon (GK) — 6. Llorente, 16. Rodri, 24. Laporte, 18. Alba — 9. Gavi (19. Soler 63′), 5. Busquets, 26. Pedri — 11. Torres (12. Williams 75′), 10. Asensio (7. Morata 63′), 21. Olmo.

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Morocco vs Spain live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

89 mins: Both teams pushing now, and it takes a big block from Sofyan Amrabat to keep out Nico Williams’ shot after Alvaro Morata gets away down the right, but the flag is already up.

86 mins: Achraf Hakimi still carries plenty of threat, though, his cross creating a chance for Walid Cheddira, but the substitute cannot make a clean connection after spinning on to the ball.

84 mins: A blow for Morocco as they make a triple substitution, including Noussair Mazraoui who looks to have picked up an injury. Almost immediately, Nayef Aguerd goes down and he too cannot continue, Jawad El Yamiq taking his place.

81 mins: Good effort from Alvaro Morata, who fizzes the ball right across the face of goal from a tight angle, with no one having gambled on getting on the end of it.

78 mins: Jordi Alba’s cross is only half-cleared by Selim Amallah as far as Dani Olmo on the edge of the area, but he cannot keep the volley down. Would have been some strike from 25m.

76 mins: The first yellow card of the game, Aymeric Laporte picking up a booking for a late lunge on Achraf Hakimi.

(US only)

75 mins: Another change up front for Spain, Nico Williams coming on for Ferran Torres.

73 mins: Morocco have been extremely difficult to break down so far. Spain have looked a little short of ideas in attacking areas.

69 mins: First chance for Alvaro Morata to cause problems for the Morocco defence, but his touch is slightly too heavy as he enters the area and Nayef Aguerd takes advantage with a well-timed sliding challenge.

(US only)

66 mins: Sofiane Boufal has been limping for a few minutes and now goes off, Abde Ezzalzouli taking his place.

63 mins: As Jordi Alba receives a spot of treatment, the first change of the match, Gavi and Marco Asensio going off for Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata.

(US only)

59 mins: Great run from Gavi to burst past three challenges and find Dani Olmo on the left, but Achraf Hakimi is there with a well-timed challenge. Morocco struggling to get out a little at the moment.

55 mins: Yassine Bono stands tall at his near post to fist away Dani Olmo’s fierce freekick from the right, Marco Asensio flicking the ball off to set up the angle for Olmo.

(US only)

52 mins: Luis Enrique not looking too pleased on the sidelines at the moment. The Spain head coach will want his side to show more in the final third, surely.

49 mins: Spain’s approach exactly the same in this second half so far. Morocco have barely had a kick so far, but nor have they looked like being broken down.

46 mins: Morocco kick off and the second half is underway. Will be see Alvaro Morata in this second half?

HALFTIME The end of an opening 45 minutes in which Spain have had the ball but Morocco have had the best chance, Nayef Aguerd heading over when unmarked in front of goal. The 2010 champions will need to find a cutting edge to go with their possession after the break.

45 mins: Only one extra minute of added time at the end of this first half.

42 mins: Spain have had the majority of the ball, as you might expect, but they’ve rarely looked like finding a way through. Morocco have, in contrast, had their moments, Sofiane Boufal twisting and turning on the left of the area before crossing for Nayef Aguerd at the far post, who’s unmarked but heads over. Big chance.

(US only)

39 mins: Morocco have been trying to get fullbacks Noussair Mazraoui and, here, Achraf Hakimi, in behind the Spain rearguard throughout this first half. Hakim Ziyech overhits this pass, but it only needs to come off once.

36 mins: Spain have responded to that shot by trying to up the tempo, pinging the ball around at pace inside the Morocco half. Still no way through, though.

33 mins: Decent work from Noussair Mazraoui, who takes the ball off Ferran Torres midway inside the Spain half and strikes a decent effort with his left foot, Unai Simon diving to his right to parry and gather at the second time of asking.

(US only)

31 mins: Morocco look to have regrouped after that little spell of Spain pressure, Rodri bringing down Youssef En-Nesyri to allow the defence to grab their breath.

27 mins: First real chance for Spain as Marco Asensio springs the offside trap, but he’s forced a little wide and rattles a shot into the sidenetting at the near post. Would probably have done better to shoot across Yassine Bono there.

26 mins: The flag is up, which spares the blushes of both Gavi and Ferran Torres. The latter closes down Yassine Bono, whose clearance is cut out, but Torres is offside as the ball is returned into the area. Gavi’s effort is brilliantly blocked, however, and Torres is denied on the followup as well, although it wouldn’t have counted anyway.

(US only)

24 mins: Morocco are definitely growing into this game, to the delight of their huge contingent of fans.

(US only)

21 mins: Morocco have played some nice football as well, Sofiane Boufal dancing past a couple of challenges down the left before looking for Hakim Ziyech with a crossfield pass, but the ball is cut out.

18 mins: The bulk of the game so far has taken place in the Morocco half, but Spain are still to fashion a chance worthy of the name.

14 mins: Unai Simon hangs in the air to claim Noussair Mazraoui’s looping cross from the left, holding on despite Youssef En-Nesyri applying some pressure.

11 mins: Freekick to Morocco on the left of the Spain area, 25m from goal. Achraf Hakimi is over it, but Unai Simon is able to watch the ball sail over his crossbar.

(US only)

7 mins: Morocco’s game plan looks clear already; soak up the pressure and look to hit on the break. It’s a long time to hold out though…

3 mins: Spain dominating possession in these early exchanges but Morocco are determined not to let them settle. They’re flying into the tackles already.

KICKOFF: Spain get us started, and the penultimate round of 16 tie at World Cup 2022 is underway!

3 mins from kickoff: The winners of this tie will take on the victors in the final round of 16 contest, Portugal or Switzerland, at the Al Thumama Stadium in the third quarter-final on 10 December, kick-off 18:00 local time.

5 mins for kickoff: The teams emerge from the tunnel. It’s a fantastic atmosphere and far more Morocco fans than Spain. This must seem like a home game for them!

(UK only)

10 mins from kickoff: Final preparations just about done and dusted. We’re almost ready to go!

15 mins from kickoff: Spain are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2010, which was the only time they have got to the last eight in their last five World Cup appearances. Overall, La Rioja have appeared in six quarter-finals, but have managed only one win at that stage – a 1-0 defeat of Paraguay 12 years ago when they went on to win the tournament.

Morocco have never reached the World Cup quarter-finals. Indeed, this is only their second appearance in the round of 16; they lost 1-0 to eventual runners-up West Germany in 1986, Lothar Matthaus scoring the only goal two minutes from time.

20 mins from kickoff: Fans soaking up the atmosphere at the Education City Stadium!

25 mins from kickoff: Spain going through their prematch paces:

30 mins from kickoff: This is the fourth time the teams have met, and the second in successive World Cups after they shared a 2-2 matchday 3 draw in Kaliningrad in the group stage four years ago. Morocco twice led at the Kaliningrad Stadium, through Khalid Boutaib (14) and Youssef En-Nesyri (81) but Isco (19) and Iago Aspas (90+1) earned Spain a point.

Spain won their first two games against Morocco, 1-0 in Casablanca and 3-2 in Madrid, in qualifying for the 1962 World Cup.

40 mins from kickoff: Gavi and Pedri have quickly become key players for Spain in this finals, and the former is keeping some pretty lofty company now.

50 mins from kickoff: With one African side left in the tournament, Morocco are getting plenty of support from across the continent:

1 hr from kickoff: Walid Regragui confirmed no fresh injuries following Morocco’s 2-1 win over Canada, with key duo Yassine Bounou and Achraf Hakimi passed fit and they start in goal and at rightback respectively. Selim Amallah replaces Abdelhamid Sabiri in midfield in Morocco’s only change.

Spain’s shock loss to Japan last time out has forced a rethink for Luis Enrique, who has reverted to the side that drew with Germany on matchday two with one exception, Marcos Llorente replacing Dani Carvajal at rightback.

1 hrs 10 mins from kickoff: Spain’s team news is also in, via the jazzy video!

1 hrs 20 mins from kickoff: As we digest the Morocco team news, go deeper to find out about one of their key men, Achraf Hakimi, who opted for the Atlas Lions over today’s opponents Spain.

MORE: Why Achraf Hakimi chose Morocco over Spain

1 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Team news! Here’s how Morocco start.

2 hrs from kickoff: Spanish outlet Marca is guaranteed to have a field day whatever happens this afternoon. They’ve spoken to journalist Julio Maldonado Maldini, who reckons Morocco are dangerous and had advice for Luis Enrique.

“It will be a very risky game for Spain,” said Maldini, calling Morocco a “very good team technically, starting with the midfielders”.

“It is also a team that tries to continue playing the ball. This World Cup, they are being more pragmatic – but many times they try to play out. That allows them to position the full-backs very high. The full-backs are the best: Achraf Hakimi and Mazraoui.

“They do damage in space due to Ziyech’s speed. Boufal unbalances the opposition. Morata must play as a centre forward to pin the central defenders. He has to play.

“I think Ferran Torres will return together with Dani Olmo. The midfield is the same as always: Sergio Busquets, Gavi and Pedri. The only doubt can be on the right side, between Cesar Azpilicueta and Dani Carvajal.”

2 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Stat attack time for Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech, who scored his first World Cup goal in his country’s 2-1 win over Canada..

The livewire played the most passes into the box (17) and created the most chances (7) of any Morocco player at this World Cup, while he’s also had the most ball carries (43), carried the ball the furthest distance (477.6m) and had the most take-ons following a ball carry (9) of any Morocco player. Bravo.

3 hrs from kickoff: Pass masters Spain completed 2,489 of them in the group stages of this World Cup – their most in a single group stage since records began in 1966.

There’s surely a lesson for Morocco in La Roja’s defeat to Japan, though, when their total of 82.3% possession and 969 passes in represented records for a losing team in a World Cup game over the last 56 years.

3 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Today’s underdogs are featuring in the knockout stages of the World Cup for only the second time. They reached the Round of 16 in 1986, losing 1-0 to Germany.

4 hrs from kickoff: Morocco can equal a record today after going unbeaten in their last four matches at the World Cup, winning two of them.

The only African team to go five consecutive World Cup games without defeat are Cameroon, winning twice and drawing three times between 1982 and 1990.

4 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Spain have never lost in three previous meetings with Morocco, with their two wins both coming in qualifying play-off legs for the 1962 World Cup in November 1961, when they triumphed 1-0 away and 3-2 at home.

5 hrs from kickoff: Morocco, in the Round of 16 for the first time in 36 years, are out to prove they belong among in the company of World Cup contenders. Spain, beaten by Japan last time out, want to show that was a mere blip on their road to glory. This has the makings of a classic.

Morocco vs Spain lineups, team news

Regragui confirmed no fresh injuries following Morocco’s 2-1 win over Canada, with key duo Yassine Bounou and Achraf Hakimi passed fit. Selim Amallah replaced Abdelhamid Sabiri in midfield in the only change.

Morocco lineup (4-3-3): 1. Bono (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Aguerd, 6. Saiss, 3. Mazraoui — 8. Ounahi, 4. Amrabat, 15. Amallah — 7. Ziyech, 19. En-Nesyri, 17. Boufal

Spain’s shock loss to Japan has forced a rethink for Enrique, who has reverted to the side that drew with Germany on matchday two with one exception, Marcos Llorente replacing Dani Carvajal at rightback. Rodri continued to fill in in central defense.

Spain lineup (4-3-3): 23. Simon (GK) — 6. Llorente, 16. Rodri, 24. Laporte, 18. Alba — 9. Gavi, 5. Busquets, 26. Pedri — 11. Torres, 10. Asensio, 21. Olmo.

Morocco vs Spain live stream, TV channel

Morocco take on Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan on December 6 with kickoff set at 18:00 local time in Qatar.

Here’s how you can watch all the action in some of the major global territories.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Tue, Dec. 6 10:00 ET Fox,
Telemundo		 fuboTV,
Fox Sports site/app,
Telemundo Deportes site/app,
Peacock
Canada Tue, Dec. 6 10:00 ET TSN 1, RDS (French) TSN site/app,
RDS app
UK Tue, Dec. 6 15:00 GMT ITV, STV ITVX, STV Player
Australia Wed, Dec. 6  02:00 AEDT SBS SBS On Demand
India Tue, Dec. 6 20:30 IST Sports18 Voot, JioTV
Hong Kong Tue, Dec. 6 23:00 HKT Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) Now TV
Malaysia Tue, Dec. 6 23:00 MYT Astro FIFA World Cup 1 Astro GO
Singapore Tue, Dec. 6 23:00 SGT StarHub FIFA World Cup,
Singtel FIFA World Cup 141		 Singtel TV GO, CAST,
StarHub TV+, MeWatch
New Zealand Wed, Dec. 6 04:00 NZDT Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW
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