Both Spain and Sweden are facing a potential Covid-19 outbreak as they prepare for their opening match on Monday. Spain opted to increase the size of the parallel training bubble to a total of 17. The reasoning behind it was that Diego Llorente tested positive in the main squad. The first on to be tested positive was the Barcelona star and Spain Captain Sergio Busquets. He tested positive on Sunday, forcing the country’s 24-man Euros squad into isolation.
With Luis Enrique’s side up against Covid-19, Sweden may sense an opportunity to strike and get off to a winning start. But as the world would have it, they themselves have had two positive Covid-19 results in Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevski and Bologna midfielder Mattias Svanberg. This leaves them in tough position.
The game will take place at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville, Spain. Build for the 1999 World Championship in Athletics.
It remains to be seen whether Spain and Sweden will call up replacement for the four players who have returned positive Covid-19 test results, but they will surely miss this game regardless. Sweden will have a more difficult task at hand in replacing Dejan Kulusevski and Mattias Svanberg.
With so much in play given the current Covid-19 situation, both sides may be happy to simply get through this game without any more positive Covid-19 test. On paper it could seem that a point for both teams would be acceptable especially for Sweden. But as part of the favorites Spain would have the journalist on their back should they fail to achieve all three points.
Spain in theory are favourites given the sheer talent at their disposal, but Sweden will be disciplined and could prove hard to break down. Sweden are still without Zlatan Ibrahimovic but have a lot of players playing abroad. Swedens defense have improved as of late. Allowing a single goal against in 2021 after five games. Spain have allowed three goals in five games in 2021. Spain have been less scoring as of late and with all the Covid-19 protocols I don´t see them scoring a 3rd og 4th goal.
Pick Of the Game: Under 2.5 Goals @ -129