SM
Ipswich vs. Man United: 16 hrs 14 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
PN
Nations League | League A
Jun 5, 2022 at 7.45pm UK
 
SN

Portugal
4 - 0
Switzerland

Carvalho (15'), Ronaldo (35', 39'), Cancelo (68')
Fernandes (32')
FT(HT: 3-0)

Schar (14'), Steffen (49'), Embolo (80')

Preview: Portugal vs. Switzerland - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Portugal vs. Switzerland - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Nations League clash between Portugal and Switzerland, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Portugal and Switzerland will both endeavour to claim their first wins of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League at the second attempt during Sunday's League A Group 2 clash at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.

Fernando Santos's side left it late to rescue a 1-1 draw against Spain on matchday one, while the visitors fell to a 2-1 defeat to the Czech Republic.


Match preview

Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench during a Portugal game is truly a collector's item, and manager Santos defended his decision not to start the five-time Ballon d'Or winner as the Selecao claimed a point in an opening stalemate with Iberian neighbours Spain.

Alvaro Morata finished to hand La Roja an early advantage in the 25th minute, and while Ronaldo would make an expected appearance off the bench, it was another substitute in Ricardo Horta who would restore parity for Portugal in the 82nd minute.

Horta's first-ever goal for Portugal sees them occupy second place in the embryonic standings after one game, and a battle with the Czech Republic also awaits the inaugural Nations League champions either side of their double-header with the Swiss.

Preparations for Qatar 2022 are in full swing after Portugal ended the North Macedonian dream in the playoff final last month, and the Selecao have lost just once in 10 games since their disappointing elimination from Euro 2020.

Failing to make it out of their Nations League group last year was something of a reality check for the world's eighth-ranked nation, who have not failed to find the back of the net in a home fixture since November 2020 and are raring to go again.

There are own goals, and then there are extremely unfortunate own goals, which Switzerland midfielder Djibril Sow was the victim of during his side's opening-day defeat to the promoted Czech Republic.

Red Bull Salzburg starlet Noah Okafor was on target for the Swiss after Jan Kuchta had taken all of 11 minutes to draw first blood for the Czech Republic, who then saw Jakub Jankto's cross take a wicked deflection off Sow from outside the penalty area and end up in the back of the net.

Had Murat Yakin's side been able to produce a more ruthless showing in Prague, they may not be starting matchday two at the bottom of the rankings with zero points to their name, but the Switzerland coach admitted that lessons must be learned from the defeat as they continue their journey to Qatar.

It is now three games without a win in all tournaments for the Rossocrociati, who have at least now found the back of the net in each of their last seven games, but their only win away from home in the Nations League since its inception came against minnows Iceland in October 2018.

Portugal defeated Switzerland 3-1 en route to the trophy in the 2018-19 semi-finals courtesy of a Ronaldo hat-trick, which marked a fourth defeat on the bounce for the visitors on Selecao soil, and not since 1969 have the Rossocrociati won away from home against Portugal in any competition.

Portugal Nations League form:
  • D

Portugal form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D

Switzerland Nations League form:
  • L

Switzerland form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L


Team News

Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Jose Sa was forced to withdraw injured from the squad before the draw with Spain, but Portugal did not sustain any fresh issues on Thursday night.

Santos claimed that Andre Silva "could do some things that Ronaldo couldn't" when justifying the 37-year-old's bench role, but the Manchester United man will expect to return to the first XI here.

Joao Moutinho only lasted 45 minutes before being taken off for Ruben Neves, who could now take the place of his Wolves teammate, but Diogo Jota was absent from the matchday squad after his Champions League final exploits alongside Domingos Duarte and the COVID-positive Vitinha.

Switzerland also did not pick up any new injury worries on Thursday night, but Yakin will likely make some alterations to the forward line after a distinct lack of a clinical nature.

Mario Gavranovic and Haris Seferovic are both battling to displace Breel Embolo in the final third, and it would be a surprise not to see Xherdan Shaqiri come back into the first XI - potentially in place of Sow.

Centre-backs Nico Elvedi and Fabian Schar will both miss the upcoming encounter with Spain if they pick up bookings here, but Yakin is unlikely to break up that pairing in Lisbon.

Portugal possible starting lineup:
Costa; Cancelo, Pepe, Pereira, Guerreiro; Silva, Neves, Fernandes; Jota, Ronaldo, Leao

Switzerland possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Widmer, Schar, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Shaqiri, Freuler, Xhaka, Zuber; Okafor, Seferovic


We say: Portugal 2-0 Switzerland

Ever since the Nations League came about, Switzerland's away day woes have not ceased, and Portugal can deepen the visitors' relegation fears in front of their own fans.

The returns of Ronaldo and Neves to the first XI ought to help the Selecao begin with more bite than they did against Spain, and we do not expect Yakin's side to spring any surprises on Sunday.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__487295 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2022-06-03 14:04:03:
html db last update - 2022-06-03 14:04:03 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal squad for Nations League fixtures
Title blow! Man City lose five in a row as four-goal Spurs dismantle the champions
"He's been unfairly judged" - Have the critics been too harsh on Arsenal's Merino?
Confirmed draw, fixtures for UEFA Nations League knockout stage and playoffs
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Flick stunned! Ten-man Barca pegged back by Celta late on in Vigo

1

FS

'Not good enough': Man United chiefs have 'serious doubts' over summer arrival

2

'G

Another Ruben reunion? Man United add 'fan favourite' to left-back shortlist

NEW

3

AR

Why Liverpool have a psychological edge over Manchester City in the title race

4

WL

'We have bricks, we need cement': Arteta explains plan for Arsenal's Nwaneri

5

'H

Yoro is back! When could Man United centre-back make his debut?

6

YI

Title blow! Man City lose five in a row as four-goal Spurs dismantle the champions

7

TB

Is Rashford in Amorim's plans at Man United moving forward?

8

IR

Barca star 'commits long-term future' to La Liga leaders

9

BS

Team News: Ipswich vs. Man Utd injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

10

TN


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .