This is one of the most exciting match-ups of the tournament so far, and the winner of this tie will have a great chance of making the semis or better, so all eyes are on this all-Iberian clash.
Portugal - Spain Betting Tip
These are two well-matched sides. For starters, Spain is ranked third in the FIFA World rankings, with Portugal in fifth before Saturday’s action (now seventh), so that’s the first clue this could be tight.
But perhaps more tellingly, five of the last seven between these two ended in draws, including five in a row, as we know already.
They also have similar playing styles based around a solid passing game, often using attacking full-backs, so they may well cancel each other out.
In other words, it has all the makings of a game that could well be a draw at 90 minutes. For those looking for really big prices, a Portugal win on penalties at 14.0 and Spain to win in extra time at 8.0 could be good bets, too.
But we won’t be too ambitious here, and a payout at 3.7 would do us just fine, so that’s what we’re going with.
With two such well-matched teams in action, it would be no surprise if it ended all-square after 90 minutes, so that’s the bet to go with.
- Prediction: 90-minute Draw
- Odds: 3.7 (at the time of writing)
- Key Stat: Between 2012 and 2022, Portugal and Spain played each other five times, and all five ended in draws.
Portugal
Good news for Portugal fans: they’re through to the Last 16 and somehow managed to avoid extra-time the other day against Croatia to get there, so shouldn’t be too fatigued.
Bad news for Portugal fans: they were a bit fortunate with a few refereeing decisions in that match, or else they may not have gone through at all. They also didn’t play particularly well in that match, or most of the others before it, for that matter.
Then again, it’s not about how well you play; it’s about getting through one way or another, and Cristiano Ronaldo and co have always been good in pressure moments. When they won the Euros back in 2016, they just kept progressing rather than impressing and in many ways, those are the makings of a great team.
Goalkeeper Diogo Costa was excellent the other night and will have to be at his best again here. As will a midfield of Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Joao Neves, who have struggled to impose themselves in the heat, also managing just one goal between them.
Ronaldo? He’ll probably start again, but as ever, many feel he shouldn’t given his lack of influence on the game in general.
- Player to watch: Bruno Fernandes - 5.0 to score / 5.0 to have 2 or more shots on target.
Spain
Spain have won three out of their four matches so far and are yet to concede a goal. Only Mexico have also kept four clean sheets, though fans of the co-host nation will point out they won all four of their games, while Spain drew their first.
They made light work of their last 32 game against Austria, winning 3-0 in what was one of the most comfortable and impressive wins of the last round.
Mikel Oyarzabal now has four goals after scoring again on Thursday. Though that’s some way off the pace for the Golden Boot winner when you consider that Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi each have seven, that’s not something either he or Spain will be worried about.
We’ve said it in these previews before, but we’re still waiting for the real Lamine Yamal to join the party. He wasn’t fully fit at the start, but he’s now had two weeks and four games to get into shape, so this could be the match where he explodes into life.
- Player to watch: Lamine Yamal - 2.1 to have 2 or more shots on target / 1.83 to score or assist.
Did You Know?
These two played each other at Euro 2004, 22 years ago, in the Group Stages, a match Portugal won 1-0 to send Spain crashing out. Despite it being over two decades ago, one player featured in that match, a certain 17-year-old called Cristiano Ronaldo.
