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A 2-1 win over Croatia on matchday one of the UEFA Nations League (UNL) ensured Portugal got off to a perfect start in their quest to replicate their success in the inaugural 2018/19 edition. Since they became the first-ever winners of UEFA’s newest international tournament, they haven’t reached the final four showdown, something they'll hope will change this cycle as the highest-ranked side (#8) in their group.
It’s the lowest-ranked League A Group 1 nation, Scotland (#48), who await them next, providing Portugal a perfect opportunity to open their UNL campaign with two successive victories for the third time in four iterations. They’ll have to snap a troublesome habit to do so though, as their last five UNL games have seen them alternate between wins and defeats, which having won on Thursday, might give them some cause for concern.
Scotland paid the ultimate penalty against Poland in their UNL opener, as two spot-kicks - including a 97th minute winner - played their part in a 3-2 defeat. It was a harsh welcome to League A for Scotland, whose top-tier debut disappointed, although that’s something the Scottish faithful have become accustomed to of late, seeing their side win just one of their last 13 internationals (D4, L8).
Even that sole win came against UEFA’s third-lowest FIFA ranked side, Gibraltar (#198), while each of their defeats against top-ten ranked sides within that run ended in a loss by at least a two-goal margin. Changing that against a Portugal side they haven’t beaten since 1980 promises to be tough (D2, L4 since), while drawing a scoring blank in four of their last five UNL away games only serves to further dampen their optimism.
Players to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo’s match-winning goal against Croatia was his 900th senior career strike for club or country - his last 13 scoring appearances for Portugal have ended in victory. If he’s a good luck charm, Scotland’s Billy Gilmour is anything but. He’s seen both his scoring appearances for Scotland - including against Poland - end in defeat, while his side have conceded at least three goals in each.
Hot stat: Portugal have never conceded more than once in a UNL home game.
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