Article: Croatia vs Portugal
Written by: Reagan Oluoch
Date Published: 18-11-2024
Croatia vs Portugal UEFA Nations League Betting Prediction, Odds, and Stats
The UEFA Nations League, League A Group 1 reaches a thrilling conclusion this week as Croatia faces Portugal at Stadion Poljud on Monday night. The Kockasti enter the match in second place, eager to secure their spot in the quarter-finals. At the same time, Portugal already has 13 points in their name, making their qualification for the quarter-final a guarantee.
Croatia have a three-point advantage over the other two teams in the group. They need a point or more to secure to avoid the risk of losing their second slot. Meanwhile, Portugal has been impressive over the last month, and they intend to make the most out of the match. We’ll break down the various betting markets, highlight value opportunities, and provide data-driven insights to help you make informed betting choices.
Key Takeaways
- Croatia hosts Portugal at Poljud Stadium on Monday, Nov 18, 2024, at 19:45 UTC
- Three of Croatia’s five matches in this competition have ended with both teams scoring
- Croatia has scored four in four consecutive home games across all competitions
- Portugal has scored two or more goals in four of their last five games
- We predict a draw, given Portugal’s attacking power has been withdrawn
League | Match | Date | Stadium |
UEFA Nations | Croatia vs Portugal | 18th November, 19:45 UTC | Poljud |
Croatia vs Portugal News
The top two teams in Group 1 of the UEFA Nations League are gearing up for a decisive clash, having both secured their spots in the quarter-finals. Under Roberto Martinez’s management, Portugal wants to maintain their unbeaten run, aiming for a perfect record to boost their confidence.
Meanwhile, Croatia has also confirmed its place in the knockout stage despite Poland’s potential to close the three-point gap. They are confident in securing a positive outcome on home turf.
Croatia started their Nations League campaign with a setback, losing 2-1 to Portugal. However, they quickly rebounded with two solid victories over Scotland and Poland, ensuring their progress to the quarter-finals.
On the other hand, Portugal has been dominant in the competition, earning 13 points out of the 15 available.
After three consecutive wins against Croatia, Scotland, and Poland, they encountered a setback with a draw at Hampden Park, preventing them from achieving a perfect record. This matchup promises to be an exciting contest as both teams look to finish the group stage on a high note.
Croatia vs Portugal: Current Form
Croatia is second in Group A1 after five matches. They opened their campaign with a 2-1 loss to group leaders Portugal but rebounded with two wins over Poland and Scotland. Meanwhile, Portugal remains unbeaten, though a goalless draw at Scotland last time out halted their perfect record.
Croatia News: Current Form
Croatia had the chance to secure their spot in the quarter-finals last week but suffered a 1-0 defeat to Scotland, keeping the Tartan Army in contention for a top-two finish.
This setback followed two wins and a draw in the Nations League after an opening 2-1 loss to Portugal in September.
The Chequered Ones have excelled at home, winning both matches in this competition so far and boasting a four-match winning streak on home soil. Additionally, they have kept clean sheets in three of those games.
Croatia will be without attacking midfielder Petar Sucic for this match after he received a red card for two yellow cards against Scotland last time out.
Mario Pasalic or Nikola Vlasic are the frontrunners to take Sucic’s place in the attack, while Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric is expected to continue leading the front line.
Portugal News: Current Form
Meanwhile, Portugal has been outstanding in the qualifiers, arriving at this match after a dominant 5-1 victory over Poland at home on Friday night.
This win marked Portugal’s fourth triumph in five matches, with their only dropped points coming from a goalless draw against Scotland last month.
With five goals in their last match, Portugal scored 12 goals in this competition, tying them for the most in League A of the Nations League alongside Group 2 winners Italy.
The latest sports news reveals that the most notable departure from the national team is Cristiano Ronaldo. He has netted five goals in the five matches he’s played in this competition, including a brace in his last outing.
He will be joined on the bus back to the airport by Pedro Neto and Bruno Fernandes, both of whom scored last week and Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva.
Croatia vs Portugal – Head to Head Stats
In their head-to-head record, Croatia and Portugal have faced each other six times, with Croatia winning once, Portugal claiming victory four times, and one match ending in a draw. Over these encounters, Croatia scored a total of 7 goals, while Portugal netted 12.
The venue analysis presents striking differences in team performances.
Portugal’s Home Record:
- 2.0 goals scored per game
- 1.0 goals conceded per game
- 75% win rate on home soil
Croatia’s Away Record:
- 1.33 goals scored per game
- 2.0 goals conceded per game
- 33.3% win rate on the road
Croatia vs Portugal Predicted Lineups
Luka Modrić continues his international career as one of four Croatia squad centurions. Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramarić also reached his 100th cap in the last match.
On the other hand, Roberto Martinez is unlikely to be surprised when he names his squad. Goalkeeper Rui Silva and defender Tomás Araújo were included last time, eager to earn their first senior international caps.
Croatia Lineup:
Labrovic (GK); Sutalo, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol; Perisic, Modric, Kovacic, Sosa; Baturina, Kramaric; Matanovic
Portugal Lineup:
Diogo Costa (GK) Dalot, Antonio Silva, Araujo, Nuno Mendes; Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Bernardo; Neto, Ronaldo, Leao
Croatia vs Portugal Betting Prediction
The betting offers landscape shows strong tendencies toward high-scoring encounters between these teams. A remarkable pattern emerges with both teams scoring in their previous five meetings, establishing a reliable trend for bettors. The over 2.5 goals market has hit in four out of five recent encounters, reflecting the attacking prowess of both sides.
Betting guides from the current market trends indicate:
- Both Teams to Score (BTTS) maintain popularity at 1.7
- Over 2.5 goals trending at 1.904
- Double Chance showing value at 1.643
Summary
Betting markets reflect this competitive tension, with Portugal as slight favorites despite their squad rotation. Value opportunities exist across various markets, particularly in the Both Teams to Score option, supported by strong historical scoring patterns between these sides.
Where to Bet Croatia vs Portugal UEFA Nations League
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