Portugal welcome Chile to the Estádio Nacional on Saturday for an international friendly, with the World Cup-bound hosts continuing their preparations for the final tournament, which gets underway next week.
While the European nation are set to make their seventh consecutive appearance on the global stage later this month, the visitors’ decline in recent years has now condemned them to a third consecutive World Cup absence.
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Portugal booked their ticket to the United States in emphatic fashion in November, thrashing Armenia 9-1 at the Estádio do Dragão to secure top spot in their World Cup qualifying group.
That result marked Seleção das Quinas‘ second-largest ever victory, and they have since followed it up with a goalless draw against Mexico and a 2-0 win over the USA.
Portugal head to the global stage later this month as one of the favourites to lift the prestigious trophy and will be led by talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to feature in a historic sixth World Cup.
However, their immediate focus will be on building rhythm and fitness in this weekend’s clash and next week’s meeting with Nigeria before opening their World Cup campaign against DR Congo.
Two wins from 18 matches represented a near-abysmal qualifying campaign from Chile as they finished rock bottom of the CONMEBOL standings.
La Roja featured in the FIFA Series New Zealand during the last international break. After beating 10-man Cape Verde in their group opener, they received a red card themselves in game two and slumped to a 4-1 defeat against New Zealand.
Portugal vs Chile Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Saturday’s game will mark the fifth meeting between the two nations.
- The two teams last met in the 2017 Confederations Cup, with Chile winning the semifinal clash on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation time.
- Portugal’s 2-0 victory over Uruguay during the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup remains their most recent meeting with a South American nation.
- Portugal sit fifth in the latest FIFA World Rankings, while Chile find themselves all the way down in 54th.
Portugal vs Chile Prediction
Home advantage, form and overall squad quality all point towards a victory for Seleção das Quinas on Saturday. Chile likely need something special to avoid a heavy defeat against a Portugal side eager to make a statement ahead of the World Cup.
Prediction: Portugal 3-1 Chile
Portugal vs Chile Betting Tips
Tip 1 – Result: Portugal
Tip 2 – Goals – Over/under 2.5 – Over 2.5 goals (Four of the visitors’ last five matches have produced more than 2.5 goals)
Tip 3 – Both teams to score: Yes
Edited by Nived Zenith