Prediction: Portugal vs Scotland

Verdict: Cristiano Ronaldo to score anytime

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: Luckster

Looking to make it back-to-back Nations League victories on Sunday night, Portugal will welcome Scotland to Lisbon.

Portugal

Starting with the hosts, left frustrated over in Germany during the summer as they eventually crashed out at the quarter-final stage following penalties heartbreak at the hands of France, Portugal would have been excited to claim a welcomed boost earlier in the week. Getting their Nations League adventure underway with a 2-1 win against World Cup bronze medalists Croatia, Roberto Martinez’s men should be confident of laying down another marker here. Pencilled in as a landslide contender on Sunday night, the former Belgium boss will be excited by Portugal’s most recent meeting against the Tartan Army. Storming their way to a 3-1 victory when they travelled to Hampden Park back in October 2018, Martinez will be calling on a repeat performance this weekend.

Team News

Making even more history against Croatia earlier in the week as he recorded his 900th goal for club and country, five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo will once again spearhead Portugal’s charge here. Only making a brief cameo appearance off the bench on Thursday night, Liverpool’s Diego Jota could be handed a full recall.

Likewise, with Martinez potential tempted to make a handful of changes this weekend, the likes of new PSG recruit Joao Neves and Sporting Lisbon’s Pedro Goncalves could feature from the start. Staying put with Porto this summer following reported Premier League interest, Diogo Costa will start between the sticks.

Scotland

As for the visitors, enduring what was a public EURO 24 nightmare over the summer and only putting a single point on the board from any of their three Group A appearances, Scotland are in the midst of what has been an extended struggle. Suffering dramatic last-gasp heartbreak at home against Poland earlier in the week as they eventually fell to a 3-2 defeat in Glasgow, Steve Clarke finds mounting pressure on his shoulders. Opening their European adventure back on June 14th as they slumped to a 5-1 drumming at the hands of host nation Germany, Scotland have recorded just a single victory from any of their previous 13 appearances across all competitions. With that extended struggle stemming back over the past 12 months, the Tartan Army have a major challenge on their hands here.

Team News

In what was a real controversy last week, Torino striker Che Adams withdrew from Clarke’s squad and the ex-Southampton striker will not feature on Sunday night. Likewise, both pulling up with respective injury issues, the Celtic duo of James Forrest and Greg Taylor have also stepped down from this month’s squad.

Both completing shock moves to Italian giants Napoli this summer, both Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmore will feature from the start. Making a second-half cameo appearance against Poland earlier in the week, Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland could be handed a full recall.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Portugal and Scotland last met back in October 2018, the Navigators collected a 3-1 victory at Hampden.
• Portugal are unbeaten in each of their previous six historic showdowns against the The Tartan Army – a run that stems back to 1980.
• Scotland have recorded just a single victory from any of their previous 13 appearances across all competitions.
• Finding the net against Croatia on Thursday night, that strike in Lisbon was the 900th goal that Cristiano Ronaldo has recorded for club and country.
• Scotland have failed to muster a single competitive clean sheet over the past 12 months.

Conclusion

Getting their Nations League adventure underway on Thursday night with a 2-1 victory at home against Croatia, Portugal should be smelling a golden opportunity here. With Scotland showing a string of issues continuing on from their EURO 24 nightmare over the summer, Martinez’s camp are rightfully pencilled in as a landslide contender in Lisbon. Landing a 3-1 victory when they last met Scotland back in October 2018, the former Belgium boss will be calling on a repeat display this weekend.

Verdict: Cristiano Ronaldo to score anytime

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: Luckster