Our prediction for this match:
Following a 1-0 defeat to Ghana in the Kirin Cup 3rd place playoff, Chile will look to put an end to their five-game losing run in all competitions when they face Morocco at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona on Thursday. La Roja are eager to get back on course, and it has to be noted that experienced players Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal, Gary Medel, Charles Aranguiz, and Eugenio Mena all made the cut. Forward Eduardo Vargas and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, on the other hand, have both been omitted.
The Atlas Lions, on the other hand, did well to crush Jamaica 3-0 in their last warm-up game, meaning that they are high on spirits ahead of the midweek friendly. Anyhow, away win should be considered as Chile want this victory more than Morocco, who qualified for the 2022 World Cup finals. A man to watch in the home team will be Sevilla attacker Youssef En-Nesyri, while Chelsea ace Hakim Ziyech retired from international football.
Highlighted Player (Achraf Lazaar):
Achraf Lazaar was born in Casablanca, Morocco on January 22, 1992, but he moved to Italy with his parents in 2003. The left-footed footballer began his youth career at Raja Casablanca and he joined Varese’s youth academy in 2009.
Lazaar made his debut for the senior team in 2012. He made 37 league appearances for Varese, but he did not find the net during his spell at the Stadio Franco Ossola outfit. In January 2014 he signed a contract with Palermo and he has been playing for the Sicilian outfit ever since.Lazaar plays as a left back, but he is capable of producing fine displays as a left back as well. Seeing that he was unable to play for Italy, the Palermo footballer decided to represent Morocco on the international stage. He made his Morocco debut on 23 may, 2014 in a friendly against Mozambique. Morocco recorded a routine 4-0 win over Mozambique back then. Achraf Lazaar has a contract with Palermo which expires on 30 June, 2017.
Highlighted Team (Chile):
The Chilean Football Federation has been established in 1895 while Chile’s first-ever international game was a 3-1 loss to Argentina in 1910. The two countries formed a remarkable rivalry over the years and it was exactly against Argentina that Chile won their last major trophy – a 2015 Copa America title.
Prior to their 2015 title Chile had been runners-up in the competition on four different occasions. Chile triumphed in a dramatic final on penalty kicks to reach their first tournament championship. In a symbolic turn of events, Chile start their 2016 Copa America Centenario with a rematch against Argentina. The most capped player of the Chile national team is Barcelona goalkeeper who has past his 100-match mark with the squad he has been a part of since 2004.
Former Lazio and Juventus striker, the legendary Marcelo Salas is the leading scorer with 37 goals to his name. Key player to the current set up is Arsenal winger Alexis Sanchez who has been the team’s leader on the pitch since 2006.