Euro 2012 Opta Stats: Spain to end Ireland's adventure

Spain have keep a clean sheet in eight of their last 12 meetings against Ireland
The world champions had kept eight clean sheets in ten tournament games prior to Antonio Di Natale's goal for Italy at the weekend and they are expected to rediscover that knack against Ireland. Giovanni Trapattoni's greying Boys in Green did find the net from a free kick in their disappointing defeat against Croatia, yet will find it difficult to even gain possession in the areas required to create such openings in Gdansk.

Ireland have beaten La Roja just twice in their last 14 official meetings, both times 1-0
Despite a Spain shutout being an odds-on prospect and the above Opta insight suggesting that even if Ireland do pull off the biggest upset of what has been a gripping competition, it will come by a slim margin, under 2.5 goals is above-evens, almost implying that Spain will win by three goals or more. Trap's men conceded just three goals in the 14 fixtures leading into Euro 2012 though and often save their best defensive displays for such occasions, while Spain haven't scored more than two in nine tournament outings.

14 of Spain's last 15 goals in the European Championship have been scored from open play, the other from a corner situation
The holders are accused of only being able to fashion chances in one way, but it produces enough opportunities for them to have scored in 11 of their last 13 European Championship matches, with only Portugal (2004) and Italy (2008) keeping them quiet in that period. With doubt over whether the scorer against Italy on Sunday, Cesc Fabregas, will keep his place as a "false number nine" or be replaced by Fernando Torres or Alvaro Negredo, the soundest option is to back a player almost guaranteed his spot in the front three, who was perhaps their liveliest performer against the Azzurri: Andres Iniesta.

Recommended Bets:
Back Spain to keep a clean sheet @ 1.695/7
Back under 2.5 goals @ 2.1211/10
Back Andres Iniesta to score @ 4.47/2

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