Spain vs Portugal Match Analysis and Prediction

2 years ago 344

Spain welcome Portugal to Benito Villamarin for their opening fixture of UEFA Nations League in Group 2 of League A on Thursday night with kickoff at 21:45.

Spain missed out on the UEFA Nations League title last season after losing 2-1 to France on the final back in October last year. They will be looking to go again this season and are for sure among the favorites to clinch the title. They are however in a tough group alongside, Portugal, Switzerland and Czech Republic and will need to kick off on the front foot if they are to win the group.

They head into the Thursday clash in a good form having won seven and lost just one of their last eight games across all competitions, with the defeat being against France in last year’s final. They have won all their last four with the last win coming against Iceland in an international friendly encounter.

Spain won 5-0 on the day at home, extending their unbeaten streak at home to 17 matches. It also marked their third home win in a row and will be looking to extend that run this Thursday.

However, they are coming up against Portugal who will also be challenging for the top spot in the group. Portugal are also in a good form having just lost one of their last nine games across all competitions, claiming seven victories and one draw in the run, and are coming off back-to-back victories against Turkey (3-1) and (2-0) Macedonia.

The two victories saw them book a spot in the World Cup finals in Qatar later this year, and therefore they should head into the match in high spirits. Portugal are also in a good away form having gone unbeaten in their last 11 matches on the road.

The two sides have drawn in their last three encounters and we expect a similar close encounter here, but we are backing the hosts to clinch a narrow victory.

Spain vs Portugal head to head

Both sides have met in nine encounters since 1984 with Spain claiming three victories while Portugal have claimed two victories and there have been four draws.