Luxembourg Vs Portugal
Luxembourg Vs Portugal Tuesday, 30th March 2021 – 19:45
World Cup Qualifier
Pick: Portugal Win & Under 3.5 Goals
Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 28th March 2021)
Preview: At Stade Josy Barthel on Tuesday evening, an embittered Portugal will touch down in Luxembourg City in determined mood as they attempt to record their seven consecutive victory away to Luxembourg – who are still on a high following their weekend exploits.
World Cup Qualifying Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Luxembourg – Jubilant celebrations cut short?
An ’embarrassing’ night in Dublin for the Republic of Ireland was instead a momentous occasion for Luxembourg, whose 1-0 win secured only their fourth ever away victory in a World Cup/Euro qualifier, and first in 28 such matches since a 2-1 win in Switzerland in September 2008. A proud moment for the nation irrespective of the opposition in question having been in uninspiring form beforehand.
There should be a spring in this team’s step next time out. Although, sadly, hopes of registering successive victories for the first time in more than two years are tempered by the sight of the reigning European champions. Luxembourg have only ever beaten the Portuguese once before – in their first ever meeting, way back in 1961 – and lost all of the last six encounters when hosts by a 1-17 aggregate.
This includes a 2-0 scoreline in the most recent meeting between the sides here at Stade Josy Barthel in Luxembourg City. In fact, none of the last three renewals of this fixture seen Luxembourg lose by a margin of more than two goals. A glimmer of hope, perhaps, that they can keep this respectable at the very least. However, their recent record as hosts, with one win from the last nine (D2 L6), is abysmal.
Portugal – Can they turn frustration into three points?
The fixture in Belgrade on Saturday, between the group’s big hitters and highest seeded teams, certainly possessed the raw ingredients for a memorable contest. It did not disappoint. Four goals, a spirited fightback from the hosts who seemed down and out when trailing 2-0 at half-time, followed by controversy at the death as Cristiano Ronaldo stormed off upon hearing the final whistle.
First and foremost, Portugal should be hugely frustrated with themselves for allowing a 2-0 lead to become a 2-2 draw. Thus halting a run of ten consecutive victories in World Cup qualifying. However, how Ronaldo’s late effort wasn’t deemed a goal, after the defender visibly failed to keep the ball from crossing over the goalline, raises serious question regarding the lack of goalline technology at this level.
The show must go on for Fernando Santos and his players, whose sole loss across their past twelve matches (W8 D3) remains the 1-0 scoreline against World champions France last November. They are unbeaten in five away since a 2-1 defeat in Ukraine in their opening qualifier for Euro 2020, scoring at least twice in eight of the last eleven away matches (W7 D3 L1) played outside of Portugal.
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Luxembourg Vs Portugal Betting Advice
With how Saturday’s fixture unfolded in Belgrade against their most likely challenger for top spot in the group, we could well see a performance from Portugal with added spice and vigour. Fernando Santos’ men had every right to leave Serbia aggrieved following a 2-2 draw that should have been more – partly on account of their own inadequacies but also those of the officials.
Luxembourg vs Portugal – Key Facts:
- Portugal (ranked 5 in latest FIFA rankings) are targeting a seventh consecutive win away to Luxembourg (96), who only went down 2-0 when these sides met in November 2019 in a Euro 2020 qualifier.
- Luxembourg will be buoyed by Saturday’s momentous 1-0 victory away to Republic of Ireland – their first win in an away qualifier since 2008.
- Portugal were incensed after seeing a late goal not given in Saturday’s 2-2 draw away to Serbia. That after labouring to a 1-0 win at home to Azerbaijan in their Group A opener.
Luxembourg will have taken a tremendous amount of belief from their own exploits last time, in beating Ireland in Dublin. This is a huge step up from playing an out-of-sorts Irish side, though. And yet the winning margin across each of the last three head-to-head meetings here in Luxembourg was never more than two goals, with the most recent two ending 2-0 to the visitors. Another modest Portugal victory appeals.
Best Betting Odds – Luxembourg Vs Portugal
Luxembourg – 25/1 (BetFred)
Draw – 7/1 (Bet365)
Portugal – 2/13 (Betway)
