Portugal vs. Scotland: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

These two sides are amidst very different runs of form. Scotland's form has collapsed in the last year, with Steve Clarke's side registering just one win in their last 13 games - a 2-0 win over Gibraltar.

Portugal, by contrast, have won five of their last seven games and have lost just one of their last 11 games in Portugal.

Portugal have won four of their last five head-to-head meetings with Scotland and haven't lost to them since 1980, and it's very hard to see that run turning around here. Portugal 3-0 Scotland.

This Sunday's UEFA Nations League fixture between Portugal and Scotland is set to be an interesting encounter as both teams seek to steady their campaigns in Group 1 of League A.

• Date: 08/07/2024
• Kick-off time: 19:45
• Location: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon

Portugal enter this match sitting second in Group 1 with three points from their first two games, but the pressure on the team and manager Roberto Martínez is palpable. The Portuguese have struggled to maintain their status as one of Europe's top national teams in recent years, and the disappointment of Euro 2024 still lingers over the squad. Despite a quarter-final appearance at the tournament, their performance was widely seen as uninspiring, culminating in a lacklustre exit at the hands of France.

Following Euro 2024, many within the Portuguese football community were calling for a change in leadership, with the general consensus being that the team had failed to reach its attacking potential under Martínez. The former Belgium coach has been criticised for a perceived lack of creativity and dynamism in the final third, with Portugal frequently failing to unlock defences despite their wealth of attacking talent. However, the Portuguese Football Federation has opted to stick with Martínez for at least one more cycle, giving him until the 2026 World Cup to prove his mettle.

One of the most contentious decisions Martínez has made during his tenure is his continued reliance on Cristiano Ronaldo. At 39 years of age, the legendary forward’s inclusion in the starting eleven has been met with mixed reactions. While Ronaldo remains a global icon and continues to break records – notably scoring his 900th career goal earlier this week – many argue that his presence hinders the development of younger, more dynamic players. Critics point to the fact that his game has inevitably slowed, and his tendency to demand the ball can disrupt the flow of Portugal’s attacking play. Yet, Martínez has remained loyal to the veteran striker, seeing his leadership and experience as vital to the team’s fortunes, something that many critics pinpoint as managerial weakness.

Despite these debates, there is no denying Ronaldo's importance to Portugal’s identity on the international stage. He remains an influential figure in the dressing room and, as his recent goal milestone demonstrates, can still deliver moments of individual brilliance. But against a determined Scotland side, Martínez will need to strike a delicate balance between honouring Ronaldo’s contributions and fostering a more cohesive, progressive attack that can better serve the team’s long-term ambitions.

Scotland, on the other hand, find themselves at the bottom of Group 1 after losing their only match in the Nations League so far. The Scots are in the midst of a transitional period following another disappointing European Championship campaign, where they were eliminated at the group stage of Euro 2024. This marked the second successive underwhelming showing at a major tournament, a fact that has raised questions about whether the team has plateaued.

After gaining promotion to League A in the last Nations League campaign, Scotland’s initial goal was to prove they had made a big step in their development as a footballing nation. However, the early stages of this Nations League campaign have been difficult, and a lack of points so far suggests that the team is struggling to regain the momentum that earned them promotion. Manager Steve Clarke now faces the challenge of reigniting his side’s confidence and launching a credible bid for World Cup qualification, with the Nations League offering a crucial platform to test his squad’s credentials.

A key issue for Scotland is the question of quality within the current squad. While Clarke can call upon experienced players such as captain Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, the squad is lacking the depth of talent seen in many of their European rivals. Robertson, while still a dependable leader, is ageing and cannot be relied upon to maintain his high-energy performances indefinitely. Tierney, meanwhile, has been plagued by injury problems that have kept him from reaching his full potential on the international stage. These concerns have led to calls for fresh blood to be introduced into the squad, but at present, there are few obvious candidates emerging from Scotland’s youth ranks who seem ready to step up.

The absence of quality depth has left Scotland somewhat reliant on a core group of players who, while capable, may not be enough to compete consistently at the highest level. Against Portugal, the Scots will need to show resilience and tactical discipline, but they will also require a greater attacking threat if they are to pose any problems for a Portuguese side keen to get back on track. Clarke’s team are known for their work ethic and defensive organisation, but the challenge will be finding a way to turn those qualities into tangible results against a team of Portugal’s calibre.

This game will be televised live to UK audiences on ITV4.

Portugal Team News:

Portugal could make a couple of changes to the side that faced Croatia last time out, with António Silva and João Neves both pushing for a place in the starting lineup.

Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to once again lead the line, with Milan's Rafa Leão playing alongside him.

Predicted lineup: Costa; Dalot, Dias, A. Silva, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha; B. Silva, Fernandes, Leão; Ronaldo.

Scotland Team News:

Steve Clarke tends to be more rigid in his selections and relies upon his old dependables.

Expect few, if any, changes to the side that lined up against Poland last time out.

Predicted lineup: Gunn; Ralston, Hanley, McKenna, Robertson; McClean, Gilmour; McGinn, McTominay, Christie; Dykes.

Portugal kicked off their Nations League campaign with a 2-1 win over Croatia. In what was a good result and a decent performance, Portugal took the lead early on through Diogo Dalot who provided a clean finish from Bruno Fernandes' assist.

Ronaldo then converted a fine Nuno Mendes cross to score his 900th career goal to put Portugal 2-0 up and in firm control.

Croatia halved Portugal's lead on the stroke of half-time, with goalscorer Dalot this time converting at the wrong end of the pitch as Borna Sosa's strike heavily deflected off the Manchester United full-back and into the back of the net.

Martínez's side did, however, hold on for the win.

Before that, Portugal had won two and lost two of their last four games, beating Türkiye (3-0) and Slovenia (penalties) while losing to Georgia (2-0) and France (penalties).

Scotland's Nations League campaign began in heartbreaking fashion as they lost 2-3 to Poland. The Scots fell behind to a fine long-range effort from Sebastian Szymański after just eight minutes, then the Poles doubled their lead right before half-time through a Robert Lewandowski penalty.

However, Scotland turned the game on its head in the second half as Napoli pair Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay drew them level, but a Grant Hanley foul in the 97th minute gifted Poland another penalty that Nicola Zalewski duly converted to leave Scottish fans heartbroken.

Prior to that, Scotland had drawn two and lost two games, drawing to Finland (2-2) and Switzerland (1-1) and losing to Germany (5-1) and Hungary (0-1).

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