Sweden Vs Portugal
Tuesday 8 September 2020 – 19:45 Kick-Off
UEFA Nations League – League A Group 3
Pick: Portugal to WIN
Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 6 September 2020)
Preview: The reigning Nations League title holders delivered an emphatic statement to those seeking to dethrone them in 2020-21, after Portugal cruised to a three-goal margin of victory in their opening Group A3 fixture. Will Sweden, narrowly defeated first time out but boasting home advantage inside Friends Arena, fare any better?
UEFA Nations League Betting at 22Bet
Table of Contents
Sweden Preview – Backs-to-the-walls defensive effort incoming?
Not for the first time, Sweden fell to a narrow one-goal defeat in their opening Nations League encounter. In September 2018 it was Turkey who did for them, surrendering a 2-1 lead late on to lose 3-2 at home after conceding in the 88th and 92nd minutes. This time around it was the reigning world champs who ensured another pointless start for the Scandinavians, undone in Solna once more by a clinical France.
An opening defeat may not harm their chances of success in this group though. In 2018, Sweden would not lose another group game before finishing on top, level on points with Russia but boasting a better head-to-head record. Repeating the same trick won’t be as easy on this occasion, however, in a group containing both the reigning European champions and World Cup holders. The former await next.
One aspect coach Janne Andersson will have been pleased about, though, was how well his team disrupted the rhythm of the French, who struggled to carve out many clear-cut chances. Meanwhile, the 1-0 scoreline means Sweden have limited their previous eight opponents (W5 D2 L1) to only four goals between them, last conceding more than once during a 2-2 draw with Iceland in a friendly back in January 2019.
Portugal Preview – Defending champions only getting better?
Watching on from the stands of FC Porto’s Estadio do Dragao, Cristiano Ronaldo was a keen observer as the Portuguese talisman oversaw an emphatic display from his team-mates, who swatted aside Croatia with all the arrogance and bravado of a side determined to retain their Nations League title. The final score of 4-1 barely doing an utterly dominant performance justice.
Portugal laid siege to the Croatia goal from start to finish on Saturday, only denied a more lopsided victory by some fine goalkeeping. One can only imagine what damage Ronaldo might have inflicted had he started. The fact Portugal can turn in such an impressive display without the five-time Ballon d’Or winner certainly bodes well, particularly should the Juventus attacker not feature here.
Not having Ronaldo in the starting line-up would be a big loss though, not least because he has form for delivering in Sweden having netted a hat-trick in a 3-2 win on Portugal’s last trip there in November 2013 for a World Cup qualifier. That one of four victories across five previous away meetings with Sweden. Meanwhile, Portugal have now lost one of the last 17 matches (W11 D5 L1), and have won eight of their last nine.
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Sweden Vs Portugal Betting Advice
After putting on an attacking clinic at home to Croatia first time out, it comes as no surprise at all that Portugal are deemed the favourites to make it six points out of six in Sweden, against whom they’ve won four of the last five contests as the away side. The Swedes made life difficult for France at the weekend though, and can take some solace from the fact their 1-0 loss in that fixture marked their first for nine games (W6 D2 L1).
Sweden Vs Portugal – Key Facts
- Saturday’s 1-0 loss to France was a first for Sweden in nine matches (W6 D2 L1), though they have now won only one of the last four competitive games (W1 D2 L1).
- By thrashing Croatia 4-1 at home in their opening Nations League fixture Portugal would extend their winning run to three successive games, having failed to win just one of the last nine competitive games (L1).
- Sweden were 3-2 victors during the pair’s most recent encounter, for a 2017 friendly, however, Portugal are undefeated in all three visits to Sweden this century (W2 D1).
It rained goals in Lisbon on Saturday, however, that is unlikely to be the case in Stockholm on Tuesday. That is because five of Sweden’s last six home matches came in Under 2.5 Goals with each of the last three settled by a solitary goal. However, this is in stark contrast to Portugal’s last four away encounters (W3 L1) which averaged more than four goals-a-game. Over 2.5 Goals looks big therefore at 6/5 (Unibet).
Best Betting Odds – Sweden Vs Portugal
Sweden – 4/1 (Unibet)
Draw – 5/2 (Betfair)
Portugal – 19/20 (Bet365)
