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Portugal national football team
Nations League | League A
Sep 8, 2024 at 7.45pm UK
Estadio Universitario de Lisboa
Scotland national football team

Portugal
2 - 1
Scotland

Fernandes (54'), Ronaldo (88')
Semedo (66'), Neves (67'), Fernandes (80')
FT(HT: 0-1)
McTominay (7')
Christie (39'), Robertson (51'), Ralston (86')

Preview: Portugal vs. Scotland - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Nations League clash between Portugal and Scotland, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

HALF-TIME UPDATE: PORTUGAL 0-1 SCOTLAND

Scott McTominay celebrates scoring for Scotland in September 2024© Imago

Turns out no Cristiano Ronaldo really does mean no party for Portugal! With the 900-goal talisman helplessly watching on from the bench, Scott McTominay - who has been just as prolific for his national team in the past 12 months - propelled Scotland into a shock lead.

The Napoli new boy finished off a free-kick routine straight from the training ground, meeting a pinpoint Kenny McLean cross to the back stick and nodding past Diogo Costa after some truly lackadaisical marking from the hosts.

McTominay was seemingly Ruben Dias's man, but the Manchester City defender appeared to be trying to organise his defence to no avail as McLean prepared to deliver the ball to the back stick, where McTominay was one of several white shirts waiting.

Since the ex-Manchester United man's seventh-minute opener, it has been a non-stop Portuguese onslaught, but thanks to a combination of wasteful finishing and Angus Gunn heroics, Steve Clarke's men somehow still have their lead intact.

It is surely just a matter of time before Portugal put one of their opportunities away, though, and with some formidable reinforcements waiting in the wings, we still expect Roberto Martinez's men to turn the tide in the second 45.

HALF-TIME PREDICTION: PORTUGAL 2-1 SCOTLAND


After kicking off their UEFA Nations League campaign with a win, Portugal will seek a second victory on Sunday evening, when they welcome Scotland to Estadio da Luz.

A landmark goal from Cristiano Ronaldo helped the Selecao start with maximum points in League A Group 1, while Scotland sunk to another last-gasp defeat.


Match preview

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in action on September 5, 2024© Imago

An early strike from former clubmate Diogo Dalot set the stage for Cristiano Ronaldo to score his 900th career goal on Thursday, as Portugal secured a 2-1 win in their Nations League opener against Croatia.

Dalot had fired home after receiving a through ball from Manchester United colleague Bruno Fernandes, before Ronaldo's finish put the hosts in control of proceedings in Lisbon, albeit a Dalot own-goal later reduced their advantage.

Having been eliminated in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, the Selecao produced a positive response upon returning to action, with their all-time appearance holder and record scorer quietening claims he should step away from the national team.

Head coach Roberto Martinez will ultimately be aiming to go all the way in a tournament Portugal won in 2019: they missed out on a place in the finals by finishing second to Spain in their group last time around.

Now, the ex-Belgium boss targets maximum points from a home double-header, though even finishing second in Group 1 would be enough to reach the quarter-finals in UEFA's new extended format.

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke during the UEFA Euro 2024 match between Scotland and Hungary on June 23, 2024© Imago

Aside from two goalless draws, Scotland have been beaten in each of their previous meetings with Portugal, so history will not be on their side at Estadio da Luz.

Much has changed since their last encounter in 2018, as Steve Clarke's reign has seen the Scots return to somewhere near their former status, reaching successive European Championship finals and earning promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.

However, a truly miserable run of results continued earlier this week, as Poland converted a stoppage-time penalty to win 3-2 at Hampden Park, following a valiant Scottish fightback.

New Napoli signings Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay both scored second-half goals to pull the hosts level in Glasgow, but Grant Hanley's tired challenge felled Nicola Zalewski late on, and the winger then stepped up to beat Angus Gunn from the spot.

Scotland have now conceded 17 goals in eight matches this year, including one in another late heartbreak against Hungary as they exited Euro 2024 with only one point from three games.

Just one win from 13 throughout 2024 puts pressure on Clarke to avoid another defeat this weekend - particularly as finishing third or fourth could see Scotland relegated - but the calibre of their opponents makes that a tough task.

Portugal Nations League form:


Portugal form (all competitions):


Scotland Nations League form:


Scotland form (all competitions):



Team News

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez during UEFA Euro 2024, July 2024© Imago

Rarely predictable in terms of tactics or personnel, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez switched from a back four to a three midway through Thursday's game against Croatia, so either setup could be used this weekend.

Pedro Goncalves and Francisco Trincao were both recalled to the squad this month, and they will compete with Rafael Leao and Pedro Neto for selection in support of captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to start up front.

After Nelson Semedo and Joao Neves were introduced at half time, either - or both - could be promoted to the starting XI if Martinez decides to rotate his abundant resources.

Meanwhile, Steve Clarke - now without Celtic captain Callum McGregor after his international retirement - sent on Ryan Gauld and Ben Doak for their senior debuts last time out, but it should be a familiar Scotland side that lines up in Lisbon.

Joining first-choice defender Kieran Tierney on the sidelines, Torino striker Che Adams had to withdraw due to injury, so either either Lawrence Shankland or Lyndon Dykes will lead the line on Sunday night.

The visitors' main threat could come from just behind the frontman, though, as Scott McTominay moved onto 10 international goals with his midweek strike against Poland.


Portugal possible starting lineup:
Costa; Dalot, Dias, A. Silva, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha; B. Silva, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo

Scotland possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Ralston, Hanley, McKenna, Robertson; McClean, Gilmour; McGinn, McTominay, Christie; Dykes


SM words green background

We say: Portugal 2-0 Scotland

As Portugal are blessed with attacking riches and Scotland cannot keep the back door shut, there can surely be just one outcome on Sunday evening.

With Cristiano Ronaldo hungry for more goals as he eyes up the 1,000 mark - and he is backed by an able supporting cast - the visitors will remain pointless in Group 1.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Portugal vs Scotland

Portugal
91.4%
Draw
5.1%
Scotland
3.5%
198
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League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Portugal Portugal22006
2 Croatia Croatia21013
3 Poland Poland21013
4 Scotland flag Scotland20020

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Italy Italy22006
2 France France21013
3 Belgium Belgium21013
4 Israel Israel20020

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany21104
2 Netherlands Netherlands21104
3 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina20111
4 Hungary Hungary20111

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark22006
2 Spain Spain21104
3 Serbia Serbia20111
4 Switzerland Switzerland20020

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Georgia Georgia22006
2 Albania national flag Albania21013
3 Czech Republic Czech Republic21013
4 Ukraine Ukraine20020

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Greece Greece22006
2 England flag England22006
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland20020
4 Finland Finland20020

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Slovenia Slovenia21104
2 Norway Norway21104
3 Austria Austria20111
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan20111

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Turkey Turkey21104
2 Wales flag Wales21104
3 Iceland Iceland21013
4 Montenegro Montenegro20020

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Sweden Sweden22006
2 Slovakia Slovakia22006
3 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan20020
4 Estonia Estonia20020

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Romania Romania22006
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo21013
3 Cyprus Cyprus21013
4 Lithuania Lithuania20020

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belarus Belarus21104
2 Bulgaria Bulgaria21104
3 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland21013
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg20020

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Macedonia N. Macedonia21104
2 Armenia Armenia21013
3 Latvia Latvia21013
4 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands20111

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 San Marino flag San Marino11003
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar10101
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein20111

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Republic of Moldova Moldova11003
2 Malta flag Malta21013
3 Andorra flag Andorra10010


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