Brazil lock horns with Norway in one of the spicier looking round of 16 ties at the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil are still trying to find their best form as they come into this game off the back of a dramatic 2-1 win over Japan in the round of 32.
Carlo Ancelotti's side won their group on goal difference following a 1-1 draw with Morocco and 3-0 wins over Haiti and Scotland, but many would argue they're yet to play to their full potential.
A poor first half saw them enter the break 1-0 down, but after a few half-time tweaks, they managed to turn the game around, with Gabriel Martinelli netting a stoppage-time winner.
Brazil were much improved in the second half and they'll take heart from that, providing a largely dominant performance that kept Japan pinned in their own third for the entirety of the half.
Brazil's form is good, though, with just one defeat from their last ten games. They've also win six of their last seven, so manager Ancelotti would no doubt argue they're rapidly improving.
In their last seven games, they've scored a whopping 20 goals so they know where their strengths lie. Both over 2.5 goals and BTTS has occurred in 70% of their last ten games, so they're rarely a dull watch.
They come into this game as the rightful favourites and they'll feel like the games arrives in a good moment. Norway are a good team, but they have faults of their own and Brazil will feel capable of exploiting them.
The Norwegians beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in the round of 32 in what was a tight and tense match.
An even affair throughout, a late Erling Haaland goal sealed the historic win and set up what is a huge clash with the five-time winners.
Norway's clash with Ivory Coast could have gone either way, and while there's plenty to be positive about, there are some concerns that could make them vulnerable against a side like Brazil.
Norway's full-backs struggled with the dribbling quality of Ivory Coast's wingers, especially Amad Diallo after he entered from the bench. With Brazil's arsenal of attackers, life could be even tougher.
Still, Norway's form is decent coming into the game, with only two defeats from their last ten outings.
With 80% of their last ten games seeing over 2.5 goals scored and 90% seeing BTTS occur, it's hard to imagine this game isn't going to throw up a few goals.
Erling Haaland has scored five goals already and he'll want to add to his tally, but in a straight shootout it's hard not to back a Brazilian side ranked 25 places higher in the world rankings with a superior squad of attacking talent - including Vinicius Jr, who's looked excellent and has four goals to his name.
Brazil 2-1 Norway
