A real turmoil happened in Spain national team just a few days before the start of the World Cup as Lopetegui got fired from the manager’s post. His replacement is Fernando Hierro, who’s gonna make his debut in the game with Portugal this Friday evening at the Olimpiyskiy Stadion Fisht in Sochi. Is this change going to have any influence on the outcome of the Portugal vs. Spain game? Find out in this match preview!
Portugal
Portugal’s captain, Cristiano Ronaldo is their key man, but this doesn’t mean they don’t have other top-class players in the team. Remember the Euros 2016? Ronaldo got injured early in the final match, but his side still managed to win the trophy.
That said, there are many Portuguese players that deserve attention apart from the CR7. One of them definitely is Bernardo Silva, Man City’s forward who’s dubbed as one of the best dribblers on the planet. Portugal are also super-strong in defense, which they proved in the qualifiers by allowing only four goals in 10 matches. In fact, only two other European teams conceded less in the qualification campaign.
Portugal have come to Russia with their spirits high, as they did very well in the recent friendlies. Their final rehearsal was the match against Algeria, which they won 3:0. Goncalo Guedes was the man of the match and everyone now thinks he’s going to perform great against Spain as well.
Apart from being in a good form, there’s another reason why we should see Portugal playing well. Several of their key players are currently without a club, so the World Cup is a great opportunity for them to get themselves in the spotlight of big-name teams. The players in question include their goalie, Rui Patrício, midfielders William Carvalho and Bruno Fernandes, as well as attacker Gelson Martins.
Spain
After accepting a contract offer from Real Madrid, Lopetegui kinda stabbed Spain football association in the back, so they decided to sack him. They hired rather inexperienced Fernando Hierro to lead Spain on this tournament. I say “inexperienced” because the only team Hierro managed was Real Oviedo.
Still, players are the ones who play matches not managers. And in the case of Spain, they have a squad that’s one of the main favorites for winning the trophy. That’s not a surprise as this team seems strong in literally every position on the pitch. Picking the best player from the Spain’s squad seems impossible – each of their first eleven is a top-class player.
Possible Lineups
Portugal:
Rui Patricio – Pepe, Fonte, Cedric, Guerreiro – Moutinho, Adrien Silva, Carvalho – Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Guedes
Spain:
De Gea – Ramos, Pique, Carvajal, Alba – Busquets, Iniesta, Koke, Isco, David Silva – Costa
Portugal vs. Spain Match Prediction
If it wasn’t for the switch of the managers, I would recommend putting big money on Spain. This way, I’m not too sure about that. Still, I don’t think Spain will lose. After all, they have a better team than Portugal. If you’re looking for a sure bet, go with Double Chance Draw/Spain! But, if you’re feeling more adventurous, I’d recommend betting on a draw at half time, with Spain winning at the end.
Portugal vs. Spain Betting Tips
- Double Chance Draw/Spain @1.25 (bet365)
- HT/FT Draw/Spain @5.40 (Unibet)