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Portugal national football team
International Friendlies
Mar 29, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
Belgium national football team

2-1

Nani (20'), Ronaldo (40')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Lukaku (62')

Live Commentary: Portugal 2-1 Belgium - as it happened

Read how Belgium's winning run in international friendlies came to an end at the hands of Portugal in Leiria with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates.
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Belgium's only friendly of the March international break took place in Leiria on Tuesday night as they took on Portugal.

Marc Wilmots's men went into the match on a seven-match winning run in friendlies, but saw that streak end as the hosts came out on top 2-1.

Relive the contest with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Gooooood evening everyone! At the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria it's Portugal vs. Belgium in what is one of several juicy international friendlies tonight.

As mentioned above, tonight's match was originally cancelled after the terror attacks in Brussels earlier this month. That would have meant no games for Belgium at all this international break as it was their only one, but luckily they were able to reschedule it in Portugal.

More than 30 people died and around 250 were left injured when three bombs went off, two at the Zaventem airport and one at a metro station in Maelbeek last Tuesday.

The Belgian flag flies at half mast following the Brussels attacks on March 23, 2016© AFP


In memory of the victims, the Belgium team will be warming up in the below shirts tonight:



Speaking of the Belgium team, how about we get some team news?

PORTUGAL XI: Rui Patricio, Pepe, Fonte, Guerreiro, Ronaldo, Danilo, Andre Gomes, Joao Mario, Nani, Cedric, Adrien

BELGIUM XI: Courtois, G. Gillet, Denayer, Lombaerts, Vermaelen, Witsel, Nainggolan, Fellaini, Mertens, Chadli, Lukaku

Starting with the hosts, Portugal coach Fernando Santos makes six changes to the side that started Friday night's surprise defeat at home to Bulgaria. Pepe, Joao Mario, Adrien Silva, Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo are those to keep their places.

Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo was guilty of missing a penalty in that match and he might not see out the 90 minutes tonight with El Clasico just a few days away.

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after failing to score a penalty kick during the friendly between Portugal and Bulgaria at Magalhaes Pessoa stadium in Leiria on March 25, 2016© AFP


As this is Belgium's only match of the international break, there's not really any news of changes by Marc Wilmots, who had a severely depleted squad to pick from. Still, there's plenty of familiar faces, including Premier League quartet Courtois, Fellaini, Chadli and Lukaku.

News from the two benches to come as well...

PORTUGAL SUBS: Lopes, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Alves, Danny, Eder, Eduardo, Eliseu, Rafa Silva, Renato Sanches, Ricardo Carvalho, Quaresma, Vieirinha, William Carvalho

BELGIUM SUBS: Engels, Boyata, Gillet, Mirallas, Batshuayi, Dembele, Mignolet, T. Hazard, J. Lukaku

Belgium are without Christian Benteke, Kevin De Bruyne Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, Divock Origi and Jan Vertonghen, but even so, the world's top-ranked nation still has plenty of firepower in this depleted squad. Everton hitman Lukaku leads the line, but Michy Batshuayi could make an impact off the bench.

Batshuayi is just 22 years old and has impressed this season for Marseille in Ligue 1, with a host of Premier League outfits said to be courting him at the moment.

Marseille's Michy Batshuayi celebrates after scoring a goal against Caen on January 17, 2016© AFP


That's the thing about this Belgium side. They are ranked number one in the world by FIFA and have such an exciting, young frontline. Lukaku, Batshuayi, Benteke and Origi often vie for just one starting spot in attack and with the likes of Hazard, De Bruyne, Chadli, Witsel and more in midfield, they should cause anyone problems. Add to that Kompany and Courtois as the rocks of the backline and you have one mean outfit.

It doesn't feel quite the same with Portugal, who have more of an ageing outfit. It doesn't quite feel right to see names like Bruno Alves and Quaresma still turning out for their country and they certainly do rely on Mr Ronaldo a little.

Still, Portugal qualified for Euro 2016 with seven wins and one defeat in Group I. It was a low-scoring group on the whole, with Portugal managing just 11 goals in eight matches as they qualified alongside Albania. Denmark, Serbia and Armenia were the others in there.

Belgium, meanwhile, topped their group by finishing two points above Wales, who were the only nation to beat them in qualifying. It was a much more exciting group than Portugal's, but one that Marc Wilmots's side ultimately topped to qualify automatically with Wales.

In friendlies, Belgium have won seven straight matches and scored a total of 20 goals in those games. Impressive!

Belgium's Jan Vertonghen (C, No5) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the friendly international match between Belgium and Italy at Baudoin King Stadium in Brussels, on November 13, 2015.© Getty Images


Since qualifying ended, Portugal have played three friendlies and lost two of them to Russia and Bulgaria. They beat Luxembourg 2-0 in the other, so not exactly scintillating from Santos's side.

Click here to see what the groups look like at Euro 2016, which about two-and-a-half months away now. Belgium are in what looks like a cracking Group E with Italy, the Republic of Ireland and Sweden, while Portugal will face Austria, Hungary and Iceland in Group F.

Looks like a nice evening in Leiria!


H2H STAT: Belgium have not beaten Portugal since 1989, but the two nations have only met on three occasions since then. They drew 1-1 in a 2000 friendly before Portugal won 4-0 and 2-1 in qualifying for Euro 2008.

That Belgium side from nine years ago was a much different one to the Red Devils outfit that tops the world rankings now. Even so, Portugal are favourites to win tonight at home.

In total, there have been 16 international meetings between these two. The two nations have each won five, with six of the contests ending as draws. Can either go in front in the head-to-head? We're about to find out!

Here we go then! Belgium in their white kit tonight, while Portugal are showcasing their light green away kit. Before we kick off, we will have a minute's silence to remember those lost in the Brussels attacks.

KICKOFF! It's Portugal who get us underway in Leiria!

It's Belgium seeing much more of the ball early on as they patiently probe from left to right.

Belgium frontman Lukaku is up against a familiar foe tonight in Southampton centre-back Fonte. The pair have had plenty of battles in the Premier League.

Take that, Lukaku says to Pepe by shrugging the Real Madrid man to the turf. Strong hold-up play, but Chadli then drives into a cul-de-sac and loses possession.

By the way, this is one of four live friendly commentaries we've got on the go tonight. Find the others by clicking here.

SHOTS! Some goalmouth action at last and it comes from the home side. Ronaldo delights the crowd with about 452 step-overs on the touchline before he feeds the ball in to Gomes. Courtois beats his shot out before again being tested by Witsel.

SAVE! Courtois called upon again to tip Nani's header over the bar. Portugal well on top at the moment.

OFF THE BAR! From the resulting corner, Ronaldo heads at goal and Courtois gets the slightest fingertip on it to tip it onto the bar.

Busy couple of minutes for the Chelsea goalkeeper then and he's proved just why he's one of the best young goalkeepers in the world.

Thibaut Courtois flashes a smile in the direction of an obsessed reporter at a Chelsea press conference on December 8, 2015© Getty Images


Half-chance for Belgium down the other end, but Mertens's shot from a tight angle is wild and flies past the near post.

Array

0 GOAL! PORTUGAL 1-0 BELGIUM (NANI)

And you have to say that they deserve it! Nani finds space in the inside-left channels and drives at goal before curling a shot over the advancing Courtois. Very cool finish from the former Manchester United man.

A goal here and a few others elsewhere as well. Germany lead Italy through Toni Kroos, while France are in front against Russia thanks to birthday boy N'Golo Kante. Still 0-0 between England and Netherlands at Wembley.

So after what was a pretty confident start, Belgium have looked ever so vulnerable since about the 10-minute mark. Portugal still doing more of the attacking after Nani's goal.

Not too much going on in Leiria at the moment. Having done what they failed to do a few nights ago against Bulgaria, Portugal will be pretty happy to invite Belgium to pump balls forward for Lukaku.

There was a half-chance for Ronaldo a couple of seconds ago, but his speculative shot from range missed the target.

SHOT! Patricio tested for the first time tonight in the Portugal goal as Mertens lets fly from 20-odd yards. Well-struck, but Patricio was alert and held the ball well.

GOAL! PORTUGAL 2-0 BELGIUM (CRISTIANO RONALDO)

The world's top-ranked side are 2-0 down! Way too easy for Portugal as Mario whips over a cross from the left that Ronaldo charges into the six-yard box to meet with an excellent flicked header. That's 56 international goals for Cristiano.

Belgium try to respond straight away but Witsel's goalbound shot is brilliantly blocked by Pepe.

CHANCE! Up the other end it's Portugal looking for a third as Mario whips over a cross into the middle that Gomes fires over.

Just the one minute of time added on.

HALF-TIME: PORTUGAL 2-0 BELGIUM

Portugal well in control at half time and it looks like Belgium's run of wins in friendlies will come to an end here in Leiria tonight. We'll be back in no time for the second half, don't go anywhere!

Array

teams just emerging from the tunnel for the second half in Leiria. Belgium need something special if they are going to make it eight friendly wins in a row.

PORTUGAL SUBS: Pair of changes for the home side, with Renato Sanches and Bernardo Silva on for Joao Mario and Adrien Silva. Surprised to see Mario go off, he had a good first half.

KICKOFF! Aaaand we're back underway.

Sanches is one of the hottest young midfielders at the moment having had a fine season for Benfica. Manchester United are among the clubs said to be interested in signing him this summer.

Renato Sanches in action for Benfica on January 31, 2016© Getty Images


CHANCE! Loose touch at the back from Gillet and Ronaldo pounces before poking wide with the ball running away from him. Not easy, but a player of his calibre would want to at least hit the target there.

CHANCE! Rare opening for Belgium as Naingollan gets away from Guerreiro down the left before clipping a cross into the middle. Mertens has timed his run well but heads wide of the target. Big miss that.

SHOT! Belgium win a free kick about 25 yards out and it's teed up for Naingollan, whose shot is swerving into the corner and beaten out by Patricio. Solid stop, but one that you would expect him to make.

BELGIUM SUB: Romelu Lukaku's younger brother Jordan is on for Gillet at left-back.

PORTUGAL SUBS: Pair of changes for the home side as well - Eder and Quaresma on for Nani and Ronaldo.

GOAL! PORTUGAL 2-1 BELGIUM (ROMELU LUKAKU)

How about that?! Jordan Lukaku with a beautiful cross from the left that his older brother heads into the corner. Great family link-up!

So Belgium have halved the deficit and they'll be confident of getting at least a draw out of this now.

BELGIUM SUB: Wilmots beefs up his frontline by taking off Mertens for Batshuayi.


Not bad...

Free kick about 25 yards out for Portugal that Guerreiro takes and curls over the bar. Courtois a little worried, but it never had enough dip.

PORTUGAL SUB: William Carvalho comes on for Andre Gomes in midfield.

Very little action of note the last few minutes, with Portugal seemingly on course for what would be a bit of a surprise victory given the two nations' current form.

BELGIUM SUB: Energy injected into the visitors' midfield as Moussa Dembele, one of the Premier League's top players this season, replaces Fellaini.

Can the visitors find an equaliser. Chadli with a strong run down the right and he looks for Lukaku with a dinked cross, but Pepe reads the danger and gets up to head out.

CHANCE! Should be game over. Quaresma with a great bit of skill before the ball is returned to him and he shoots high and wide with the outside of his boot.

BOOKINGS! Danilo and Dembele square up in the middle and the referee decides to caution them both for the handbags.

SUBS: Change for both teams, with Boyata on for Denayer for Belgium and Danny on for Danilo for Portugal.

Three minutes of time added on and still Portugal lead thanks to those first-half goals from Nani and Ronaldo. Belgium haven't really done enough in the second half to deserve anything to be honest.

FULL-TIME: PORTUGAL 2-1 BELGIUM

All over in Leiria then and it's a win for Portugal against the side ranked ?1 in FIFA's standings. Nani and Ronaldo scored good goals in the first half and Belgium could only half-answer through Romelu Lukaku.

Thanks a lot for joining Sports Mole tonight. I'll leave you with our match report and urge you to click around for more international football back on the homepage. Good night!

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The Belgian flag flies at half mast following the Brussels attacks on March 23, 2016
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