Portugalvs.Denmark

Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to score a late winner in the first leg on Thursday, and the visitors therefore have a lead to protect heading into what is shaping up to be a fascinating return fixture.

Match preview

Portugal struggled to get going against Denmark on Thursday, with Christian Eriksen missing a first-half penalty for the Danes before Hojlund came off the bench to score the only goal of the contest.

The defeat was Portugal's first since being knocked out of Euro 2024 by France in the quarter-finals of the competition, and it is now just one victory in their last four matches for Roberto Martinez's side.

A Selecao das Quinas won the 2019-19 Nations League, beating Netherlands in the final of the competition, and an exit to Denmark at the quarter-final stage of this tournament would go down as a huge disappointment for a team of their ilk.

Portugal will be expecting to make an impression at the 2026 World Cup considering the quality in their squad, but the national side have only been past the last-16 stage of that tournament on one occasion since 2006, making the quarter-finals in 2022.

The hosts had been on a three-game winning run against Denmark before the reverse on Thursday, but they have still been the dominant force in this fixture throughout history, triumphing in 11 of their previous 17 matches in all competitions.

Hojlund ended a 21-game goal drought when he struck in Man United's 3-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League last weekend, and the Red Devils forward was again on the scoresheet off the bench against Portugal on Thursday night.

The victory was Denmark's first since last September, having gone four games without a win, losing twice to Spain in the process, while they had ended their Nations League group-stage campaign with a 0-0 draw against Serbia.

The Red and Whites made the last-16 stage of Euro 2024, losing 2-0 to Germany, while they are bidding to win the Nations League for the first time in their history.

Brian Riemer's side will have taken plenty of encouragement from their performance against Portugal, and as mentioned, it could have been more comprehensive, with Eriksen being denied from the penalty spot in the first period.

Portugal Nations League form:

W

W

D

W

D

L

Denmark Nations League form:

W

L

D

L

D

W

Team News

Portugal head coach Martinez is not expected to panic when it comes to his team, so it is entirely possible that he will select the same XI from the first leg, including a spot through the middle for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The greatest goalscorer of all time failed to make his mark in the first leg, but he has Martinez's trust, and it is difficult to imagine him being removed from the XI, while Bruno Fernandes is another certain starter in the number 10 spot.

Bernardo Silva is an option, but Portugal need Pedro Neto's pace in the final third of the field, while Paris Saint-Germain's excellent midfield duo of Vitinha and Joao Neves are set to continue in the middle.

As for Denmark, Hojlund has put himself in contention to start with his strike off the bench, and it is likely that the Man United forward will now be given the nod through the middle.

Hojlund's Red Devils teammate Patrick Dorgu was only a late substitute on Thursday evening, and he is again set to start on the bench here, as head coach Riemer will not want to disrupt his defensive unit.

Hojlund for Mika Biereth might be the only alteration from the first leg, with Eriksen set to continue in the number 10 spot, leaving Morten Hjulmand and Christian Norgaard to hold the midfield.

Portugal possible starting lineup:

D Costa; Dalot, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves; Neto, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo

Denmark possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Kristensen, Andersen, Vestergaard, Maehle; Hjulmand, Norgaard; Isaksen, Eriksen, Lindstrom; Hojlund

We say: Portugal 1-0 Denmark (Portugal win on penalties)

We could be in for a long night in Lisbon - Portugal should be able to triumph in the second leg, but we are only expecting it to be 1-0, which would lead to a penalty shootout, and we are backing Martinez's side to ultimately emerge victorious to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.

Written by

Matt Law

Previews by email