Prediction: Scotland vs Portugal

Verdict: Over 2.5 goals – yes

Best Odds: 13/10

Bookmaker: 888sport

Scotland and Portugal will lock horns this Sunday in a thrilling match that will put two sides going head-to-head despite their opposite form in recent matches. While Scotland will try to end their friendly woes, Portugal will aim to continue their success playing away from home. Kick-off is scheduled for Sunday at 17:00 BST.

Scotland

There’s no way to make things pretty here: Scotland have been struggling of late, and those problems have become even more noticeable when we talk about friendly matches. The Scots have dropped their last three friendly matches, and have won just once of their past six contests (W1, L5) under this category. To make things even more difficult, they have now gone 312 minutes without scoring a single… and it might be hard to imagine them breaking that streak here; after all, they will face the reigning European champions. The Brittish side lost in their most recent encounter (2-1 against Israel) and that gives them four losses in their past five matches across all competitions (W1, L4). They have also gone W2, L3 in their past five home matches. By all accounts, they have not been very good of late.

Team News

No important absences for Scotland ahead of this game.

Portugal

Portugal are coming off a 3-2 away win over Poland in the UEFA Nations League earlier this week, something impressive if we consider they didn’t have Cristiano Ronaldo. Their recent form has been very good of late, with two straight wins and just one loss over their past five encounters (W2, D2, L1), including two consecutive wins in the ultra-competitive League A in the UEFA Nations League over both Italy and Poland. As a friendly, this will be a great chance for the coaching staff to test a few new players, especially considering the matches that come ahead in their packed schedule. For what is worth, Portugal’s record playing away from home of late has been impressive; they are undefeated in their past six (W5, D1) while scoring 15 times and conceding just two over that span.

Team News

Portugal will have a key absence here, as all-time leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo (85 goals) will be out.

Plus, both Pepe and Bernardo Silva will reportedly be rested ahead of this match.

Key Factors to Consider

• Only two of Portugal’s last six matches have had over 2.5 goals.
• The last time Scotland won a home friendly was way back in March 2016. They claimed a 1-0 victory over Denmark in that contest.
• Portugal have gone undefeated in their past six matches on the road: W5, D1.
• Across all competitions, Scotland have scored just one goal in their past five matches.
• Scotland’s last five home matches have seen only side scoring.

Conclusion

Scotland are due to score at least once based on the fact that Portugal could field an alternative side. However, Portugal remain the better side of the two, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they win by a comfortable margin of over two goals.

With that in mind, we could easily expect over 2.5 goals in this match.

Verdict: Over 2.5 goals – yes

Best Odds: 13/10

Bookmaker: 888sport