Brazil vs Norway Betting Tips & Preview

Brazil to win

Brazil are the pick to see off Norway in this Round of 16 clash at the World Cup, and it comes down to a blend of superior recent form and the general strength in depth they've shown throughout the tournament so far. Norway have been no pushovers, but Brazil's unbeaten run through the group stage, allied to the fact they've found a way to win three straight matches, makes them the more reliable side heading into a knockout tie of this magnitude. The 1.80 on offer reflects a tight contest on paper, but taking the balance of recent performances into account, Brazil edge it as the most probable outcome.

Recent Form

Brazil's build-up to this last-16 meeting has been solid rather than spectacular. They opened with a draw against Morocco, then reeled off three consecutive wins — over Haiti, Scotland, and Japan — heading into the Norway game. That's a side that has found its rhythm at the right time, closing out matches after slower starts and gathering momentum with each round.

Norway, for their part, arrive with an equally strong recent record, marred only by one defeat. Wins over Iraq, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire either side of a loss to France show a team capable of beating decent opposition, but that reverse against the French is a reminder they can be got at by the higher-calibre sides — which is exactly the kind of test Brazil should pose here.

Head-to-Head

There's nothing to draw on in terms of head-to-head history between these two nations. Our records show no previous meetings between Brazil and Norway, so this looks to be either a first-ever encounter or one that predates the data available to us. Either way, there's no historical pattern or psychological edge to lean on — this preview's judgement rests entirely on current form and the players available to each side.

Team News

Brazil will again be without Raphinha, who has been sidelined since June 21 with a hamstring injury and has missed the recent run of wins. His absence is worth factoring in given his quality, though Brazil have managed fine without him across their last three fixtures. Norway, meanwhile, have no players currently listed as sidelined in our data, meaning Ståle Solbakken's side — if the team news holds — should be able to select from a fully available squad, which in theory works in their favour heading into a must-win knockout fixture.