Portugal vs Azerbaijan
24th March 1945hrs
Football – International – 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Pick Portugal to win to nil
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 17/20 odds taken 1633 GMT, Tuesday 23 March
Current European champions Portugal begin their quest to reach the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with a Group A qualifier with Azerbaijan. Wednesday’s fixture will take place at the Juventus Stadium in Turin. The Portuguese are the overwhelming favourites to start with a win, with the bookies pricing Fernando Santos’ troops at just 1/33. This should be a walk in the park for the UEFA Euro 2016 winners. We have the latest odds and predictions.
Table of Contents
Portugal Preview – Portuguese to start with an easy win?
Current European champions and UEFA Nations League winners Portugal start their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a match with minnows Azerbaijan. In truth, Fernando Santos’ boys should have no problems in this one.
Portugal have a busy schedule with three qualifiers coming up in the next week. After Wednesday’s game with Azerbaijan in Italy, they make the trip to Belgrade to face Serbia at the weekend. Next Tuesday, Portugal take on Luxembourg at the Stade Josy Barthel.
Santos’ side are in solid form ahead of this World Cup qualifying campaign. The Navigators have been beaten just once since October 2019, winning 12 of their last 16 fixtures in all competitions. The Euro 2016 champions should cruise to all three points in Turin in midweek.
Azerbaijan Preview – Heavy defeat in Turin?
Incredibly, Azerbaijan have drawn their last four games all 0-0. They picked up a Nations League victory over Cyprus in September last year, which was only their second win since November 2018.
Azerbaijan are likely to struggle in Group A, with the Azerbaijanis set to battle it out with Luxembourg for fourth place. After kicking off their qualifying campaign against Portugal in Italy, Gianni De Biasi’s boys welcome Serbia to the beautiful Baku Olympic Stadium next Tuesday.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
This will no doubt be a tough day at the office against one of Europe’s elite. Azerbaijan will be hoping to keep the scoring as low as possible at the Juventus Stadium, but they could be on the wrong end of a cricket score.
Portugal vs Azerbaijan Betting Advice
Portugal and Azerbaijan last met in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The Portuguese eased to wins home and away, winning 3-0 on their own patch and 2-0 in Baku. Portugal have a superb record in this fixture, though the Azerbaijanis did hold them to a shock 1-1 draw in a UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier back in September ’99.
Key Facts – Portugal vs Azerbaijan Betting Tip
- Azerbaijan have never beaten Portugal
- The Azerbaijanis have picked up just two wins since November 2018
- Portugal have won 12 of their last 16 games
Since that 1-1 draw at the end of last century, Portugal have won the following three meetings without conceding. Put some money on the Portuguese to win to nil on Wednesday at 1/4.
When these two met back in October 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo helped himself to a brace. The Juve man has netted 32 goals in 39 appearances for club and country this term, scoring two or more in 11 games. Back Ronaldo to score two or more goals in midweek at 5/6.
The best betting odds for Portugal vs Azerbaijan
Portugal to win: 1/33 at Bet365
Draw: 14/1 at Bet365
Azerbaijan to win: 40/1 at Bet365
