Liechtenstein vs Portugal prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-11-15 19:45.
With dreams of a first-ever appearance at a European Championship finals already in the mud for Liechtenstein after a typically tragic qualifying campaign (ECQ: L8), their upcoming meeting against Portugal looks set to be a formality. It is difficult to see the microstate defying astronomical odds to triumph here, but there is always a glimmer of hope given that they have never failed to gain a point during a ECQ cycle.
If they’re to avoid making history for the wrong reasons, a realist would suggest that Konrad Fünfstück’s men will have to wait until they host Luxembourg on Sunday in order to halt their losing streak, as the Blue-Reds have conceded more than three goals per match in 2023, including four in the reverse fixture against Thursday’s opponents (L 4-0). That result extended Liechtenstein’s winless record against Portugal to eight games (D1, L7), in which they conceded a colossal 39 goals at an average of 4.88 per match!
In a perfect contrast to their hosts, Portugal enter this encounter having accrued maximum points after eight games, scoring an incredible 32 goals – an ECQ-high for the 2024 tournament – while letting in just two. That sequence has seen them to the finals in Germany next year with two contests to spare, yet that shouldn’t raise any doubts over lack of motivation as this Portugal team, coached by Roberto MartĂnez, stands on the brink of history, with only Liechtenstein and Iceland between them and their first-ever perfect winning ECQ cycle.
The last comparable campaign from Portugal’s perspective was ahead of Euro 2016, when they dropped just three points in qualifying on the way to winning the entire tournament! Hopes are high that they’ll replicate that success this time round, especially seeing as Portugal have won a national-record five straight ECQ away matches without conceding, scoring 15 unanswered goals in the process.
Players to watch: Dennis Salanović has scored one of Liechtenstein’s four goals across their last 24 ECQ fixtures in a run spanning eight years! At the other end of the pitch, Bruno Fernandes will massively fancy his chances of adding to his tally of 13 goal involvements during this ECQ cycle (G5, A8), especially after netting in two of his last three club appearances.
Hot stat: Liechtenstein have lost nine of their last ten ECQ home games without scoring, while eight of those outings also saw them trail at half-time.