The opening match in Group B in UEFA EURO 2020 qualifiers could hardly be more high caliber, with Portugal and Ukraine facing two nations that could also clash in the Nations League Group A in the coming season. While the Yellow Blues just started out of league B, the Seleção das Quinas won their triples with Italy and Poland and this summer will play in the mini-tournament in their own country for the overall victory, where the reigning European champion in the semi-final against Switzerland is considered a big favorite. However, the point now is to position themselves for a potential title defense at EURO 2020, for which, as a first step, Group B of the qualification should be won.
Football Betting Tips Portugal vs Ukraine
Portugal is against Ukraine, according to odds of bookmakers in the clear favorites role, although the yellow-blue should not be underestimated. Although missing the team of legend Andriy Shevchenko at the Football World Cup 2018 in Russia, lost throughout the year but only a single match, which is already an important factor in Portugal against Ukraine for the forecast. It should also be noted that the hosts of the 2012 European Championship have nothing to lose in the Estádio da Luz in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Even in the case of a defeat, there is still a second leg, while the actual qualification the yellow-blue would probably lead through Serbia, which are the only significant contenders for second place in Group B, which is completed by Lithuania and Luxembourg. In Portugal vs. Ukraine may be a bit more realistic on the hosts, but under no circumstances should the guests be written off prematurely.
Portugal – Statistics & Current Form
The Portuguese national football team has a truly groundbreaking week ahead, as the reigning European champions will welcome both main contenders in qualifying Group B within just four days, as Ukraine and then Serbia will play in Lisbon. It’s time to secure further victories, as the Seleção das Quinas would not have said goodbye as group winners in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League after the last two matches against Italy (0-0) and Poland (1-1 ) only ended in a draw. All the more it plays the hosts of the Nations League 2018/19 finals in June this year in the cards that with Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) the absolute superstar of the team for the first time since the Football World Cup 2018 will come up again for the Seleção das Quinas.
“I have great respect for this group, but Portugal wants to play in the European Championship and try to defend the title. […] With Cristiano Ronaldo every team is stronger! ” – Fernando Santos at Edição em Português
That CR7 can make the difference in these important two qualifying matches in their own country, no one should deny even a bit. Along with defenders Pepe (FC Porto) and José Fonte (Lille) as well as keeper Rui Patrício and midfielder João Moutinho (both Wolverhampton Wanderers), the average age of the reigning European champion’s 25-man squad is again very high. The brave nominations of internationally hunted shoot stars João Félix (Benfica Lisbon) and Dyego Sousa (Sporting Braga), who have a good chance of entering the league table in one of the most important matches of the home country in the context of the European Championship Quali 2020, prove that success coach Fernando Santos is also thinking about the future to be thrown cold water. It should be taken into account in Portugal vs Ukraine in the prediction that the Seleção Quinas will most likely remain faithful to their defensive route, which set three years ago in France, the course for the country’s first European title. And as long as the back is at zero, in the game forward known only a single ingenious moment from Captain Cristiano Ronaldo would be completely sufficient.
Expected formation of Portugal:
↪ Patrício – Cancelo – Pepe – Fonte – Guerreiro – Pereira – Mário – Carvalho – Moutinho – B. Silva – Ronaldo
Last matches of Portugal:
⚽ 20.11.2018 – Portugal vs. Poland 1: 1 (Nations League)
⚽ 17.11.2018 – Italy vs. Italy Portugal 0: 0 (Nations League)
⚽ 14.10.2018 – Scotland vs. Scotland Portugal 1: 3 (friendly)
⚽ 11.10.2018 – Poland vs. Portugal 2: 3 (Nations League)
⚽ 10.09.2018 – Portugal vs. Italy 1: 0 (Nations League)
Ukraine – Statistics & Current Form
Although the Ukrainian national football team is just 30th in the current FIFA World Ranking, the host of the 2012 European Championship will be one of Europe’s elite in the near future. So the yellow-blue has just succeeded the rise from the Nations League B, when the troupe of Andriy Shevchenko against Slovakia and the Czech Republic could win three of their four games (one defeat). This will allow Ukraine to get used to being in regular contact with attractive opponents and also have a double bottom in terms of participation in EURO 2020. Should it not be in Group B in the three-way battle with Portugal and Serbia Place among the first two nations, so they still had the Nations League Playoffs, which could lead as a backdoor to the European Championship.
But the claim of Andriy Shevchenko’s men is certainly different, as the 2018 balance sheet, with only one defeat to five wins and four draws, indicates that once again a very well functioning troupe has come together EURO 2016 was the first nation to retire in France and could not win a single game with a goal difference of 0: 5, not much to do.
Thanks to Andriy Shevchenko, who has promoted everything in this important away game in Lisbon, which has rank and name and is currently available. In Portugal vs. However, Ukraine also speak the odds clearly for the Seleção das Quinas, because the yellow-blue with the former Dortmund Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham United) missing an important cornerstone injury. In addition, the coach has been on the defensive, a change and gives the youth preference over the seasoned defenders Yaroslav Rakitskiy (Zenit St. Petersburg) and Yevhen Khacheridi (PAOK), which bring together to over 100 internationals. Will the defensive, which is mainly under contract with Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev, be able to withstand the reigning European champions? At least it is a risk that would be credited in case of success as a further stroke of genius by Andriy Shevchenko.
Expected formation of Ukraine:
↪ Pyatov – Butko – Karavayev – Matviyenko – Kryvtsov – Zinchenko – Sydorchuk – Stepanenko – Konoplyanka – Kovalenko – Kravets
Last matches of Ukraine:
⚽ 20.11.2018 – Turkey vs. Ukraine 0: 0 (friendly)
⚽ 16.11.2018 – Slovakia vs. Ukraine 4: 1 (Nations League)
⚽ 16.10.2018 – Ukraine vs. Czech Republic 1: 0 (Nations League)
⚽ 10.10.2018 – Italy vs. Ukraine 1: 1 (friendly)
⚽ 09.09.2018 – Ukraine vs. Slovakia 1: 0 (Nations League)
Portugal vs Ukraine Direct Comparison
Only two international matches have been played between Portugal and Ukraine so far and both were mandatory matches in the context of the World Cup Qualifying Games in 1998. Whereas Ukraine were victorious in the first leg in front of home crowd 2-1, the Seleção das Quinas won the second leg in Portugal 1-0. In the “head to head” comparison, there is currently one draw for each victory of both nations.
Portugal vs Ukraine Our Betting Tips Explained
Overall, Portugal speaks against. Ukraine much for Tip 1, although it is not quite as easy to predict this game in the classic 3-way system adequately. Finally, Tip 1 would have to show a very high probability of occurrence, since the associated ratio is relatively low and only promises a low profit. The more difficult Portugal vs Ukraine predictions, as Andriy Shevchenko continues to push ahead with the restructuring of his squad, which has the potential to be fully absorbed. Since the Seleção das Quinas is not the most dangerous nation in Europe anyway and Fernando Santos can act out of a stable defensive, the draw in this game is therefore quite a serious option, especially since no one in the very first group match against the supposedly strongest opponent equal to shoot the entire powder and want to be catapulted offside in case of failure.
Key Facts – Portugal vs Ukraine tips
↪ The only home game against Ukraine, Portugal won 1-0
↪ Both nations have won their group in the Nations League 2018/19 and compete in league A in the next edition of the competition
↪ For the first time since the 2018 World Cup Portugal can once again rely on superstar Cristiano Ronaldo
Therefore, it is more sustainable in Portugal vs Ukraine hinted that under 2.5 goals would be scored in this qualifier. This includes not only a narrow 1-0 victory of the hosts but also a possible 0: 0 or 1: 1 or even a surprise success of the guests from Eastern Europe.
Bet Tip: Under 2.5 goals
Odds: 1.74
