Prediction: Portugal vs Sweden

Prediction: Potugal to win 3-0

Best Odds: 11/1

Bookmaker: Betfair

Portugal and Sweden will lock horns with each other in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League this week. The Group A3 game will kick off at 7:45pm UK time at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Wednesday, and it promises to be a very interesting and intriguing clash.

Portugal

Portugal are at the top of the UEFA Nations League Group A3 with seven points from three matches. Fernando Santos’s side kicked off their campaign with a 4-1 hammering of Croatia in Porto before getting the better of Sweden 2-0 in Solna, with Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo scoring both the goals. The Euro 2016 winners then played out a goalless draw with France in Saint-Denis.

Portugal will head into the match against Sweden on the back of two goalless draws. They drew with Spain in a friendly international last Friday and then with France on Sunday. The defending UEFA Nations League champions will now be looking to get back to wining ways.

Team news:

Portugal have suffered a big blow ahead of the match against Sweden. Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out after testing positive for coronavirus. Anthony Lopes had earlier withdrawn from the squad after being infected with the virus.

Sweden

Sweden have been hugely disappointing in the UEFA Nations League so far. They are at the foot of Group 3 at the moment with no point from three matches. Janne Andersson’s suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of France in Solna in their opening game last month, and three days later they were beaten 2-0 by defending champions Portugal at the same venue. The Swedes went down 2-1 to Croatia in Zagreb this past Sunday.

However, Sweden did win last week, getting the better of Russia away form home in a friendly international. The Swedes are going to find it extremely hard to pick up even a single point against an in-form Portugal team, although they will be without the legendary Ronaldo.

Team news:

Sweden will be without Ludwig Augustinsson, as he has left the camp for Werder Bremen to prepare for the Bundesliga, while fellow defender Filip Helander has gone back to Rangers due to injury.

Key Factors to Consider

• Portugal are at the top of Group A3.
  Sweden are at the bottom and face relegation to League B.
  Portugal’s record in 19 matches against Sweden reads W6 D6 L7.
  Sweden won 5-0 against Bulgaria at Estadio Jose Alvalade during Euro 2004.
  Cristiano Ronaldo will not play for Portugal because of coronavirus.

Conclusion

Even without Ronaldo, Portugal are a formidable side, with the likes of Rui Patricio, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Joao Moutinho, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Joao Felix going strong. It is hard to see Sweden score or win against the home team on Wednesday evening.

Prediction: Potugal to win 3-0

Best Odds: 11/1

Bookmaker: Betfair