Portugal 2-1 Morocco: What's your prediction?

After springing the latest World Cup upset in a tournament which has had its fair share, an increasingly confident Morocco side that masterminded victory over Spain will aim to continue their fairytale run in Saturday's quarter-final with Portugal.

They now have a chance to become Africa's and the Arab world's first semi-finalists in front of a fervid support which has been swollen by backing from much of the rest of the region.

Morocco refused to be hypnotised by their opponents' extraordinary 1,019 passes and denied the Spaniards a goal in two hours of energy-sapping action as they secured a 0-0 draw before edging into the last eight on penalties.

By contrast, Saturday's opponents Portugal, starting without Cristiano Ronaldo, turned in a dazzling display of attacking brilliance in their 6-1 hammering of Switzerland after an inconsistent group stage campaign.

With Portugal looking to make history of their own by reaching a first final - they lost to France in the 2006 semi-finals - Morocco will provide a test of their new-found sense of adventure and Santos' willingness to keep Ronaldo in reserve.

When?

10th December, Saturday, 09:00 pm, Bangladesh time

Where?

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar

Head-to-head

Matches 2

Portugal 1

Morocco 1

Draw 0

Previous meetings:

The teams have met twice previously, both at the World Cup. Morocco won 3-1 in the 1986 group stage, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal in Portugal's 1-0 win in the group stage four years ago in Russia.

Probable lineups

Portugal: (4-3-3) Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; B. Silva, Carvalho, Otavio; Fernandes, Ramos, Felix

Morocco: (4-3-3) Bounou; Hakimi, Saiss, Aguerd, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal

Key stats:

* Morocco are the first Arab nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals and the fourth African team after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010. Coach Walid Regragui became the first Arab manager to lead a team to the knockout rounds.

* Portugal's Goncalo Ramos, 21, scored the first hat-trick of this year's competition in their 6-1 win over Switzerland. He became the first player to score a hat-trick on his first World Cup start since Miroslav Klose for Germany in 2002.

* Morocco have yet to concede a goal from an opposition player at the tournament. The only goal against them in four games came in their 2-1 win over Canada, when defender Nayef Aguerd accidentally flicked a cross past his own goalkeeper.

* At 39 years and 283 days old, Portugal defender Pepe is now the oldest player to score in the World Cup knockout stage after his header against Switzerland in Tuesday's 6-1 victory.