Spain - Dominican Republic predictions and free betting tips [28/06/2024]

Teams are gearing up for the final match in the preparatory cycle for the Olympic qualification.

Spain

The Spaniards haven't seen a victory since 2023 and are on a streak of five losses, a concern for head coach Sergio Scariolo. Yet, we shouldn't discount the esteemed team that continues to astonish us in major tournaments.

Recent matches can be seen as seeking new players and solutions. Key players such as Sergio Llull, the Hernangómez brothers, and Rudy Fernández, who will retire after this tournament, have not had much playtime. I believe the losses don't trouble the team; they are merely training. When the crucial moment comes, they will perform as needed and qualify for the Olympics.

We've noticed Spain struggling in attack and lacking high scores. In their last five matches, they have surpassed the 80-point total only twice. The same goes for their upcoming opponents. We see two less productive teams meeting, suggesting that the overall total might go under.

Dominican Republic

Unlike Spain, the Dominican Republic has had an undefeated preparation cycle, winning three out of three matches against weaker teams like Portugal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Norway, albeit with two narrow victories. They approach the last match on a high note.

Considering a positive handicap for the visitors is plausible: they haven't lost by more than 12 points in their last nine games, and Spain isn't gearing up for a blowout. Their last encounter in 2023, also a friendly, saw the Dominican Republic fall by nine points (86:77).

The team's leader is Andrés Féliz, who plays in the Spanish league for Joventut and averages 15 points and 4 assists per game. The game revolves around him. Another player to note is NBA's Golden State player Quinones. Although he doesn't play much, having a high-calibre player lifts the team's status. With players from elite leagues, they won't be easy to defeat.

Head-to-head Encounters

The teams met twice, as mentioned above, in 2023 in a friendly where Spain won (86:77), and in 2019, also a friendly, where Spain triumphed (102:70). Back then, Marc Gasol was playing, showing the progress of the Dominican Republic since.

Prediction for Spain vs Dominican Republic

I'd consider a positive handicap for the Dominicans since Spain isn't heavily utilising their key players and is likely focusing on establishing connections and offensive play. Meanwhile, the visitors continue with their tried and tested gameplay, seldom losing by a wide margin recently.