Portugal v Switzerland Betting Preview – World Cup 2018 Qualifiers 10th October
Portugal can just throw everything that they have at this fixture. They know that they will at least be in the play offs if they don’t win this, but a victory for them will give them top spot. Portugal are kicking off three points back of leaders Switzerland, but Portugal are eight goals better off than the Swiss in the goal difference in the group, so just need to win to claim the top spot. Switzerland have already beaten Portugal comfortably in the group though and hold a 100% record in qualification. They only need a point in this one though.
Portugal v Switzerland Betting Tips
This is a great showdown for top spot in Group B. Portugal have to win to get the prize though as anything less means the play offs for them. They have a commanding goal difference advantage over Switzerland so just need that home win. They have produced a 100% home record so far in the group, scoring eighteen goals in the process. So that’s a great return and part of an overall W8 D0 L1 record in the entire campaign. Portugal have averaged over three goals per game in the campaign and over 2.5 goals at William Hill is a price of 19/20 for the clash. Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer in the group with 15 goals, but Andre Silva has chipped in well with 8. Ronaldo is the William Hill first goalscorer favourite at 7/4 while Silva is a price of 6/4 in the anytime goalscorer market.
Both Silva and Ronaldo scored in a 2-0 win at Andorra on the weekend so they carry their good momentum forward. Both teams to score at William Hill will return a great price of even money and that looks value because Switzerland carries a good attacking threat as well. The Swiss won the earlier group meeting 2-0 and that so far is the only thing splitting the two on points. But Portugal are likely to fight back hard against Switzerland on home soil as they don’t have to worry about losing because they won’t finish any worse off than how they are starting. Portugal have actually won just one of their last four against the Swiss (D1 L2) so they aren’t in hot form against them. Their last two meetings with them have both ended in a 2-0 defeat.
In the William Hill correct score market a Portugal 2-1 option fetches a price of 15/2 with a 1-0 for them the shortest priced option in the market at 5/1. Switzerland have nine wins from nine games in the group and this group was always going to come down to these two for the two qualification spots. The Swiss have scored ten goals in their four away victories this season and across their nine games in the group, they have only conceded the five goals. A draw gets them to Russia so you expect that they will set their stall out very hard to try and avoid the play offs. So the Swiss have a big motivating factor in this and they are on a six match winning streak at the moment. Haris Seferovic is their top scorer in qualification and is a price of 10/3 in the anytime goalscorer market.
Portugal v Switzerland Betting Odds
Portugal 8/13, Draw 14/5, Switzerland 9/2
Portugal v Switzerland Predictions
Portugal to win: Portugal have the cushion of playing without fear because nothing changes if they lose, they will be in the play offs. So that should make them dangerous in this ones and they can make amends for their earlier group stage loss against the Swiss. Home win.
