UEFA Nations League: Portugal Aim to Deliver a Knockout Blow on Poland

Portugal vs Poland

Group A1 is back on the agenda on Friday when UEFA Nations League: Portugal vs Poland is the box office draw at the Estadio do Dragao. 

Roberto Martinez’ Portugal are sitting comfortably at the top of the group on ten points from four games, three points clear of Croatia and six ahead of the Poles in third. If Portugal manage to win this tie then that will signal the end of Poland’s qualification hopes for the quarter finals knockout phase, and they may still have work to do to avoid relegation.    

To make things harder for the visitors Poland boss Michal Probierz has his captain and star striker Robert Lewandowski out injured and so the pre-match make the Selecao red hot favourites to win this tie; but last time out Martinez’ men were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw away to Scotland while Poland shared the points in a six goal thriller with Croatia, so this game is not as one-sided as it may appear on first sight.    

 

Talking Points

Premier Stars can shine for Portugal

The 2019 Nations League champions are one of the favourites to win the 2025 competition and, with a squad dripping with talent, they will certainly take some beating. The Premier League has been swamped with quality from the Selecao squad for some years and a relatively new star is now grabbing the headlines. Pedro Neto starred for Chelsea in the Blues 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the weekend, scoring a stunner of an equaliser and he was a constant thorn in the Gunners’ side. Now 24 years of age Neto was a fan’s favourite for Wolverhampton Wanderers before a big money move to Stamford Bridge and he is one of the best wingers in the business, with a superb delivery and an excellent turn of pace.        

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has been a mainstay in the Portugal side for almost a decade now and he’s in superb form for the Red Devils, putting in a man-of-the-match performance in a 3-0 win over Leicester City. And a former colleague at Old Trafford, one Cristiano Ronaldo is still strutting his stuff. CR7 is due to reach the grand old age of 40 in February but there are no signs of him hanging up his boots just yet. In fact, having passed 900 career goals he is yet to rule out reaching 1,000 and Ronaldo will take inspiration from the legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic who played on into his 40s.  

 

Lewandowski absence is tough for Poland

Poland talisman and top scorer Robert Lewandowski is out of action for both the upcoming Nations League games as he is nursing a back injury picked up during Barcelona’s 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad on Sunday. The 36 year old played the whole 90 minutes of that defeat but he was seen holding his back and in some discomfort in the late stages.

The Blaugrana have said he will be out for ten days which means he will be fit for the return of La Liga but not for the two upcoming Nations League games. And that will be a huge irritation to Probierz who will lead his team into this ‘do or die’ clash without his most potent weapon. Inter Milan’s Piotr Zielinski has scored twice in the competition already and the attacking midfielder is good for a goal on the big occasion and the Poland boss will also look to Karol Swiderski, now at Charlotte FC, who has scored 11 goals from 37 games for his country. Kryzsztof Piatek, playing at Istanbul Basaksehir has 11 goals in 27 internationals and he is hugely experienced, starring for AC Milan and Fiorentina, as well at Hertha Berlin.    

Poland’s clash with Croatia turned out to be something of a goal fest with six goals, and none of Poland’s three were scored by Lewi, so there is some hope for Poland when they step out on Friday.    

 

History

In terms of the head to head Portugal vs Poland results the Selecao have been in charge with six wins from the 11 encounters, while Poland have won two of the meetings and there have been three draws. Portugal won the return in Warsaw 3-1 as Ronaldo scored his 133^rd international goal.

And Portugal’s recent form is better with four wins, one draw and one defeat and they have won their last three games at home. Meanwhile the Poles have won one, drawn two and lost three of their last six games.   

 

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 1.24 the hosts are red hot favourites to take all three points and head towards the knockout phase with renewed momentum; while Poland are way out at a price of 8.30 and the draw at 5.22. 

While Portugal beat Poland 3-1 last time, in each of their other Nations League games the Selecao has failed to win by over a single goal, while Poland have not lost any of their other matches by more than one goal. The hosts will be more relaxed but the visitors arguably have more at stake and while the Selecao should win, the margin may be tight.  

     

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