Portugal Look to Cement Place at Top of Group 3
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The new UEFA Nations League continues this week as we return to international football. While Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp may not be a fan of the competition, fans are looking forward to cheering on their country in this new event.
UEFA Nations League A features the strongest teams around Europe and League 3 contains Poland, Portugal and Italy. All three teams started with the belief they had a chance of winning the group and possibly a place at the 2020 European Championship.
On Thursday night, Poland host Portugal at the Stadion Śląski, Chorzów. As things stand, Portugal are top of the group, with Poland sitting in second place with a point.
Portugal started their Nations League campaign with a good 1-0 home win over Italy. The Italians failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and Italian football is below the level it used to be but Portugal still had a job to do. A single goal by Andre Silva was enough to win the match.
However, that was Portugal’s first win in four matches having been held by Iran and lost to Uruguay in the World Cup. They picked up a draw with Croatia in a friendly following the tournament. In fact, Portugal have won only three of their last ten games.
Portugal have been in decent form when playing away from home and are undefeated in their last five. There have been wins over Faroe Islands, Latvia, Hungary and Andorra in World Cup qualifying plus a draw in a friendly with Belgium. Portugal have scored in four of their last six away games.
Poland will be happy to have picked up a point in their opening UEFA Nations League game in Italy. Having taken the lead, they would have hoped to see out the match but will be happy following their poor performance at the 2018 World Cup.
Having lost to Colombia 3-0 at the World Cup, Poland are undefeated in their last three games. They defeated Japan 1-0 in their final World Cup game and have picked up a draw in Italy and at home against Republic of Ireland.
Trends show Poland have lost two of their last thirteen matches at home but Portugal will be arguably the toughest team they faced on home soil in recent years. Poland have scored 2 or more goals in three of their last four home matches.
Team news and Poland have a strong squad from which to pick, with Krzysztof Piątek, the current top scorer in Italy possibly starting the match alongside Robert Lewandowski.
Portugal will travel without star man Cristiano Ronaldo as the Juventus man considers his international future. Andre Silva is set to continue up-front having scored against Italy in the first match.
We could be in for an attack minded game in Poland. Both teams have been scoring goals at home and away respectively and we could see a draw, with both teams finding the back of the net.