On Tuesday night, Portugal and Spain will meet in Braga for a winner-takes-all showdown in UEFA Nations League Group A2.
As we head into Matchday 6, first-place Portugal and second-place Spain are separated by just two points – with Switzerland and Czech Republic out of contention for top spot.
Noites como esta. 🌙😌👌 #VesteABandeiraNights like this. 🌙😌👌#WearTheFlag pic.twitter.com/9HzZ13Ruhp— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) September 24, 2022
Noites como esta. 🌙😌👌 #VesteABandeiraNights like this. 🌙😌👌#WearTheFlag pic.twitter.com/9HzZ13Ruhp
A draw for Portugal would be enough to see them finish atop Group A2. On the flip side, Spain will claim first place if they secure all three points on Tuesday.
Portugal have only lost one of their five Nations League clashes this year, picking up three wins and one draw along the way.
Not only do they have the best offensive record in Group A2 (11), but they also boast the best defensive record (2).
Portugal thrashed Czech Republic 4-0 on Saturday, with Diogo Dalot bagging a brace. Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Jota also got on the score sheet.
Across all competitions, Portugal have suffered just two defeats in their past 14 games – sealing ten wins and two draws in the process.
On the other hand, Spain have registered two wins, two draws and one loss in the Nations League this year.
The Spaniards kicked off their campaign with a four-game unbeaten streak. However, they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Switzerland on Saturday.
It is worth noting that Spain headed into Saturday’s clash against the Swiss on an eight-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
When you look at the bigger picture, the Spaniards have lost just two of their previous 13 games in all competitions – picking up nine wins and two draws in that time.
Head-to-head: It is worth pointing out that each of the past four meetings between Portugal and Spain have ended in a draw, from 2018 to 2022.
Portugal have only managed to win two of their previous 14 matches against Spain, recording nine draws along the way.
Team news: Portugal will welcome back Joao Cancelo from suspension on Tuesday, although Dalot is likely to keep his place in the team following his brace.
With Aymeric Laporte and Mikel Oyarzabal injured – and Ansu Fati and Thiago absent from the squad – Spain’s starting XI is difficult to predict.
Portugal and Spain have played out more than their fair share of draws in recent years, meaning Tuesday’s clash is destined to be a tight affair.
Forebet predicts that Portugal and Spain will produce yet another low-scoring draw in Braga, with both sides netting under 1.5 goals.