Scotland vs Portugal prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League A betting tips on match 2024-10-14 18:45.
[p]There was more late heartache for Scotland on Saturday, who had an injury-time equaliser disallowed against Croatia (L 2-1), condemning them to a third straight UEFA Nations League (UNL) defeat. After they lost their opening two games against Poland (3-2) and Portugal (2-1) by conceding after the 85th minute, they’re staring at likely relegation back to League B for the next cycle.[/p]
[p]It’s now over 18 months since the Scots beat European champions-to-be Spain 2-0 in Glasgow, but since then they’ve only beaten Georgia at home (D2, L3), so face a tall order here. Winning none of the last three H2Hs on home soil (D2, L1) is hardly encouraging either as Steve Clarke’s men try to pick themselves up again and get something out of their first-ever campaign in League A.[/p]
[p]Their opponents Portugal are seasoned campaigners at this level having won the inaugural UNL title in 2018/19 and are now closing in on the knockout stages after beating Poland 3-1 to continue their perfect start to this cycle (W3). As they conceded in all three fixtures, there’s still work to do even though coach Roberto MartĂnez said he was satisfied with the way they[/p]
[p]controlled the Poland game.[/p]
[p]He’ll expect more of the same against a side ranked 44 places below them according to FIFA, especially as Portugal have only ever lost one UNL away game (W5, D3). They scored at least twice in all of those wins, so a repeat of their last visit to Glasgow, when they won 3-1 in October 2018, could well be on the cards.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Ryan Christie netted for Scotland against Croatia, but might be more likely to pick up a card given he was booked in three of his last six games for club and country, including in September’s H2H defeat. That was a game in which the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo scored – he’s now registered Portugal’s second goal of the game in each of their UNL fixtures this cycle.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Tournament football aside, only one side scored in seven of Portugal’s last eight away internationals (W6, L2).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]