Big Game Focus: Portugal v Switzerland

 

A place in the inaugural UEFA Nations League final is at stake when Portugal face Switzerland at Estadio Do Dragao stadium tonight. Fernando Santos’s side have drawn their last four matches, while Switzerland have won just three of their last seven games in all competitions. Here’s the Big Game Focus with some betting tips. Bet on the UEFA Nations League here.

Portugal were disappointing in last year’s World Cup tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo and company were eliminated in the knockout stages by Uruguay. However, after that loss to the South Americans, they are unbeaten. Since then they have beaten Italy, Poland and Scotland, and drawn against Croatia, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, and Serbia. Will the Euro 2016 winners get a chance to lift another silverware?

Meanwhile, Switzerland went into this tournament as outsiders, but they have shown they can go toe-to-toe with the best in the business. A memorable comeback saw them defeat the much favoured Belgians 5-2 in a pulsating encounter in Lucerne. Can they upset the odds again this time?

Betting preview

Portugal have won their last three competitive home games against Switzerland. They have also lost just once in their last ten home matches. The Swiss have lost three of their last five away matches. Therefore, you can back a Home Win at odds of 1.60.

Since their painful World Cup exit, six of Portugal’s last eight matches has ended with fewer than three goals. Seven of Switzerland’s last ten away matches have seen Under 2.5 Goals. The last five encounters between these two teams has also seen two goals or less. Therefore, you can back Under 2.5 Goals at odds of 1.70.

Ronaldo missed Portugal’s entire UEFA Nations League campaign. The Juventus star has 85 goals for the Portuguese and with the support of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and highly-rated Benfica teenager Joao Felix, he can make things happen for his team. Therefore, you can back Cristiano Ronaldo as Anytime Goalscorer at odds of 1.80.

Team news

Danilo Pereira is suspended for the hosts.

Xherdan Shaqiri is a doubt for Switzerland.

Possible line-ups

Portugal: Patrício, Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro, Neves, Carvalho, Fernandes, Silva, Ronaldo, Guedes

Switzerland: Sommer, Mbabu, Schär, Akanji, Rodríguez, Xhaka, Zakaria, Fernandes, Shaqiri, Zuber, Seferović