Ukraine celebrated qualification to the 2020 European Championship having defeated Portugal 2-1 at home in the previous round of matches in Group B. That leaves the Portuguese still needing to pick up points if they are to defend the title they won in 2016. On the 14th of November, Portugal host Lithuania in a match they will expect to win comfortably but the pressure is on.
The match will be played at the Estádio Algarve, in Faro.
Portugal are battling with Serbia to claim the crucial second qualifying spot in this group and need to win this game in order to prevent Serbia from possibly climbing above them with one match remaining. The Portuguese have played 6 games in Group B, winning 3, drawing 2 and losing one. They started the campaign with two home matches against Ukraine and Serbia and were immediately placed on the back foot having been held to a draw in both games.
However, wins away against Serbia and Lithuania plus a home victory over Luxembourg saw Portugal move back into qualifying contention.
Trends show Portugal have lost only one of their last 14 games and that was the defeat last time out in Ukraine. They are very strong at home and you must go back to a friendly match against Netherlands in 2018 to find the last time they tasted defeat on home soil. Portugal are undefeated in their last 10 home games including friendlies and have kept a clean sheet in 3 of their last 5.
📣 @LuisFigo: "Não tenho dúvidas que Portugal vai estar no Europeu". Palavra de lenda da Seleção! Precisamos do teu apoio nas bancadas para lá chegarmos!🇵🇹🆚🇱🇹 & 🇱🇺🆚🇵🇹🎟️ Bilhetes à venda: https://t.co/1StwaPbpqr🛒 Lojas Continente Loulé, Portimão, Faro e Guia pic.twitter.com/VcP6Xv8TFh— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) November 10, 2019
📣 @LuisFigo: "Não tenho dúvidas que Portugal vai estar no Europeu". Palavra de lenda da Seleção! Precisamos do teu apoio nas bancadas para lá chegarmos!🇵🇹🆚🇱🇹 & 🇱🇺🆚🇵🇹🎟️ Bilhetes à venda: https://t.co/1StwaPbpqr🛒 Lojas Continente Loulé, Portimão, Faro e Guia pic.twitter.com/VcP6Xv8TFh
Lithuania travel to the south of Portugal with no hope of qualifying for the 2020 European Championship. They sit bottom of the group with just one point from their 7 matches and it looks very unlikely they have what it takes to move off the bottom before the end of this campaign.
Lithuania have drawn one and lost 6 of their 2020 European qualifying matches. Their only point came in a 1-1 draw at home against Luxembourg. Lithuania have tasted defeat at home against Ukraine, Portugal and Serbia plus away against Luxembourg, Serbia and Ukraine.
Trends show Lithuania have failed to win any of their last 18 matches including friendlies. In fact, they have won only one of their last 28 games, which is a poor record. Lithuania have lost 9 of their last 10 away matches and they have conceded 2 or more goals in 7 of those games.
Team news and Portugal have Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks who is currently the joint top goal scorer in this group. The Juventus forward is joined by the creative talents of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Diogo Jota. Joao Felix is injured.
Lithuania have only one player who has scored more than a single goal in this group and winger Arvydas Novikovas should start this game. Saulius Mikoliūnas is the most experienced player in the team.
Portugal cannot afford to make any more mistakes in this group but this should be a game they win comfortably. Expect to see Portugal score 2 or more goals and keep a clean sheet on their way to victory.