Prediction: Portugal vs North Macedonia

Verdict: Diogo Jota to score anytime

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: Unibet

Knowing that they’re just 90 minutes away from booking their spot at this year’s World Cup finals, Portugal will host a high-flying North Macedonia on Tuesday night.

Portugal

Starting with the hosts, while Portugal might have been left stunned to have seen Serbia pinch top spot off of them last year, Head Coach Fernando Santos saw his side bounce immediately back. Eventually picking up a deserved 3-1 victory against Turkey at the Estádio do Dragão last week, the former European champions should be smelling another golden chance here. Knowing that they’re just 90 minutes away from booking their spot at this year’s World Cup finals, it won’t be a surprise to many that the Navegadores are tipped as a landslide pick on Tuesday night. A stacked squad that hosts a string of Premier League superstars, it is well worth keeping an eye out for Liverpool’s Diogo Jota. Once again impressing against Turkey on home soil last week, it should be highlighted that the one-time Wolves man has now racked up five qualifying goals in just his seven outings. With last year’s 2-1 defeat against Serbia their only loss from any of their previous eight matchups across all formats, Portugal will be simply looking to avoid a major upset.

Team News

After serving a suspension against Turkey last week, Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo is expected to make his return on Tuesday night.

However, still suffering with an injury issue, Ruben Dias will once again miss out here.

North Macedonia

As for the visitors, stunning almost everyone across the footballing globe last week, there is no doubt that North Macedonia will find the mood in their camp at a remarkable high. Securing a famous last-gasp winner out in Italy and knocking the defending European champions out on home soil, Head Coach Blagoja Milevski has rightfully seen his side pick up a host of admirers. Pulling off what many had billed an upset in Group J as they clinched second spot behind Germany, the Lynxes will be desperate to cause another major upset here. Riding what has been a real wave over the past 12 months, it should be highlighted that a 4-0 defeat against the Germans back in October is Macedonia’s only loss from their last eight contests. Signing off their Group J run with a hugely impressive 3-1 romp against Iceland on home soil, Milevski’s side will undoubtedly travel to Portugal on Tuesday night confident of causing a few problems.

Team News

In what is a real boost for North Macedonia on Tuesday night, both Eljif Elmas and Tihomir Kostadinov are set to make their return from suspension.

However, picking up a knock against Italy, Boban Nikolov is expected to miss out here.

Key Factors to Consider

• Both Portugal and North Macedonia have lost just one of their last eight matchups across all formats.
• Liverpool’s Diogo Jota has scored five qualifying goals in just his seven outings.
• Portugal have won 11 of their previous 12 World Cup qualifying home fixtures.
• After stunning Italy last week, North Macedonia have recorded three straight clean sheets on foreign soil.
• When Tuesday’s guests made their only trip to Portugal in 2003, they suffered a 1-0 loss.

Conclusion

While North Macedonia might have pulled off one of the most famous results in World Cup qualifying history last week, there is no doubt that they will need another miracle here. Coming past Turkey thanks to a 3-1 victory on home soil a few days ago, Portugal will be thinking that they have been handed a golden chance. Winning 11 of their previous 12 qualifying contests in front of their own supporters, they also have one attacking talisman enjoying quite the free-scoring run. Once again finding the net against Turkey last week, Liverpool’s Diogo Jota has racked up five qualifying strikes so far and he should be confident of extending on that tally here.

Verdict: Diogo Jota to score anytime

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: Unibet