MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 02:47:53| >> :600:128772:128772:
[monks data]
Spain national football team
Nations League | League A
Jun 2, 2022 at 7.45pm UK
 
Portugal national football team

Spain
1 - 1
Portugal

Morata (25')
Sarabia (37'), Llorente (72'), Busquets (90+2')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Horta (82')
Moutinho (38'), Silva (39'), Nunes (84'), Pepe (90+3')

Preview: Spain vs. Portugal - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Nations League clash between Spain and Portugal, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Spain and Portugal will open their 2022-23 UEFA Nations League campaigns with a glamour fixture at Estadio Benito Villamarin in Seville on Thursday night.

The two sides have been drawn into League A Group 2 with the Czech Republic and Switzerland, and both will play four times in the competition in the early stages of June.


Match preview

Spain's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring a goal with teammates on March 29, 2022© Reuters

Spain reached the final of the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League, beating European champions Italy in the semi-finals of the competition, before losing 2-1 to France in Milan.

La Roja will take on Portugal, Czech Republic twice and Switzerland over the next couple of weeks, and the four fixtures will give head coach Luis Enrique a good chance to have a look at his squad, as he solidifies his plans for the 2022 World Cup.

Spain comfortably booked their spot in the finals of the 2022 competition, picking up 19 points from their eight matches to top Group B, and they will be bidding to challenge for their second World Cup crown in Qatar.

The European nation went out in the group stage of the 2014 tournament before being eliminated in the round of 16 in 2018, but they reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and certainly look capable of putting up a challenge at the World Cup later this year.

Spain have played two friendlies since ending their qualification section, recording a 2-1 win over Albania on March 26 before beating Iceland 5-0 three days later, and they will be bidding to make it five straight victories in all competitions on Thursday night.

Portugal's Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring against North Macedonia on March 29, 2022© Reuters

Portugal were made to go through the playoffs to book their spot at the 2022 World Cup, recording a 3-1 win over Turkey in the semi-finals before beating North Macedonia 2-0 to secure their position in the finals.

Fernando Santos's side will take on Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in Group H later this year, and they will be expected to reach the knockout rounds of the competition.

Portugal have actually been eliminated in the round of 16 in two of their last three World Cups, losing to Uruguay in 2018, and their best finish remains third at the 1966 competition.

A Selecao will take on Spain, Switzerland twice and Czech Republic in the UEFA Nations League over the next couple of weeks, and Santos will also be using the fixtures to prepare for the World Cup.

Portugal and Spain have played out goalless draws in their last two meetings, both friendlies, in October 2020 and June 2021 respectively, with their last competitive meeting occurring at the 2018 World Cup - the pair playing out a pulsating 3-3 draw in the group stage of the competition.

Spain Nations League form:
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L

Spain form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Portugal Nations League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W

Portugal form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W


Team News

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in action with Turkey's Ozan Kabak on March 24, 2022© Reuters

Spain will be without the services of Aymeric Laporte, with the Manchester City centre-back pulling out of the squad due to a knee problem, while Barcelona's Pedri is also a notable absentee through injury.

There is still no David de Gea, with Unai Simon very much the number one goalkeeper at this moment in time, with Robert Sanchez and David Raya picked to support the Athletic Bilbao stopper.

Eric Garcia could play alongside Pau Torres in the middle of the defence, while Thiago is likely to feature despite his involvement in the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Gavi could play in an advanced area alongside Barcelona teammate Ferran Torres, while Alvaro Morata, who is comfortably the leading goalscorer in the squad with 25, should lead the line.

As for Portugal, Man City's Ruben Dias is out through injury, so Danilo is again likely to feature alongside Pepe in the middle of the defence.

There are not expected to be many major surprises in the away side's starting XI, with Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva likely to be joined by Joao Moutinho in midfield.

Meanwhile, Diogo Jota should start despite being involved in the Champions League final, while Cristiano Ronaldo will lead the line on his 187th appearance for the national team.

There is another spot open in the final third of the field, and a number of players are in contention to play off the right, but Porto's Otavio could ultimately get the nod.

Spain possible starting lineup:
Simon; Azpilicueta, E Garcia, P Torres, Alba; Thiago, Busquets, Koke; Gavi, Morata, F Torres

Portugal possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Cancelo, Pepe, Danilo, Guerreiro; Fernandes, Moutinho, Bernardo; Otavio, Ronaldo, Jota


SM words green background

We say: Spain 1-1 Portugal

This has all of the makings of a brilliant game of football, and it will be interesting to see how both sides are shaping up ahead of the World Cup. It would not be a surprise to see a home or an away win here, but we have a feeling that a tight fixture could end with the points being shared.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


ID:487113:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect11670:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Spain vs Portugal

Spain
33.4%
Draw
15.9%
Portugal
50.7%
704
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in action with Turkey's Ozan Kabak on March 24, 2022
Read Next:
Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal squad for Nations League fixtures
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS

League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal642014
Q Croatia Croatia62228
3 Scotland flag Scotland62137
4 Poland Poland61144

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France641113
Q Italy Italy641113
3 Belgium Belgium61144
4 Israel Israel61144

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany642014
Q Netherlands Netherlands62319
3 Hungary Hungary61326
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina60242

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain651016
Q Denmark Denmark62228
3 Serbia Serbia61326
4 Switzerland Switzerland60242

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic632111
2 Ukraine Ukraine62228
3 Georgia Georgia62137
4 Albania national flag Albania62137

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England650115
2 Greece Greece650115
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland62046
4 Finland Finland60060

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Norway Norway641113
2 Austria Austria632111
3 Slovenia Slovenia62228
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan60151

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Wales flag Wales633012
2 Turkey Turkey632111
3 Iceland Iceland62137
4 Montenegro Montenegro61053

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Sweden Sweden651016
2 Slovakia Slovakia641113
3 Estonia Estonia61144
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan60151

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania550015
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo540112
3 Cyprus Cyprus62046
4 Lithuania Lithuania60060

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland632111
2 Bulgaria Bulgaria62319
3 Belarus Belarus61417
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg60333

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Macedonia N. Macedonia651016
2 Armenia Armenia62137
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands61326
4 Latvia Latvia61144

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q San Marino flag San Marino42117
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar41306
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein40222

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Republic of Moldova Moldova43019
2 Malta flag Malta42117
3 Andorra flag Andorra40131


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!