World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar play their second game in Group A of the competition as both teams look for their first point on Friday afternoon.
Qatar form guideThe hosts kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Ecuador. Another defeat in this clash would end their chances of qualifying for the last 16 of the competition. They will have to up their game massively if they are to record their first-ever World Cup victory in this game.
The defeat in their opening group game ended a four-game winning run for Felix Sanchez’s team. The game followed a low-scoring trend in Qatar’s recent matches, as four of their previous internationals have produced under 2.5 goals.
Senegal form guideThe Lions of Teranga produced a decent display in the 2-0 defeat against the Netherlands in their group opener, with goals in the last ten minutes consigning Alou Cisse’s team to defeat. The loss against the Oranje ended a four-game unbeaten run for Senegal in the international game.
Like the hosts, Senegal’s recent matches have been tight and low-scoring affairs, with under 2.5 goals scored in their last five outings.Senegal has a poor record at the World Cup, as they won just two of their nine games in the competition. They have also failed to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup since a 1-0 win over France in their debut tournament in 2002.
Latest team newsQatar head coach Sanchez has no reported fitness concerns. However, the Spaniard may make changes to his starting line-up after his team's underwhelming opening game display.
Senegal has fitness doubts over Abdou Diallo and Cheikhou Kouyate, who both picked up injuries in the defeat against the Netherlands. Pape Gueye and Ismail Jakobs look like the most likely replacements for the pair they don’t recover in time to feature.
What am I backing?Both these teams’ recent matches have been low-scoring affairs, which leads me to back under 2.5 goals scored in this encounter.
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