About Uruguay vs Portugal Match
- Group A winners Uruguay face Group B runners-up Portugal in the second last-16 match of the 2018 World Cup. Uruguay reached the second round by winning all three group games, without conceding a goal, while European champions Portugal beat Morocco and drew with Spain and Iran to reach the round of 16. The match - the first competitive meeting between the two - takes place at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, on Saturday June 30 and kicks off at 9pm local time.
Uruguay Team News, Updates, and Facts
Uruguay Team News
Uruguay changed their system to play Russia and were rewarded with a more attacking performance. Whether they stick with the same 4-4-2 diamond against Portugal remains to be seen, however. Jose Maria Gimenez missed the match, with Sebastian Coates replacing him at centre-back, but he is back in training after his thigh injury and could return.
Uruguay Key Players
Luis Suarez – Has scored in each of the last two matches to bounce back from a below-par performance in the opening game
Edinson Cavani – After 40 goals in 47 games for PSG last season, he scored the final goal against Russia to break his duck at this year’s World Cup
Diego Godin – Uruguay’s hugely experienced captain has led the back four to six consecutive clean sheets and must now keep Cristiano Ronaldo under wraps
Uruguay Group stage round-up
1) Uruguay 1-0 Egypt
2) Uruguay 1-0 Saudi Arabia
3) Uruguay 3-0 Russia
Uruguay team won Group A with three wins from three games, not conceding a single goal in the process. Jose Maria Gimenez scored the late winner as Oscar Tabarez’s team beat Egypt 1-0 in their opening game, while it took an early Luis Suarez strike to give Uruguay a 1-0 victory against Saudi Arabia. That confirmed Uruguay’s place in the second round and they sealed top spot in style – Suarez opening the scoring against Russia, before an unfortunate deflection off Denis Cheryshev doubled their advantage. Igor Smolnikov was dismissed for two yellow cards before half-time and Edinson Cavani swept home the third goal in the final minute.
Uruguay Team Form
Uruguay have now won all six matches they have played in 2018 and are yet to concede a goal. They won two from two at the China Cup in March, with Edinson Cavani scoring against both the Czech Republic and Wales to lead Uruguay to victory, before a 3-0 win against Uzbekistan in their only World Cup warm-up match. At the World Cup they won all three group stage matches to Group A with nine points.
Uruguay Predicted Starting Line up
Expected Line up: 4-4-2
- Goalkeeper:Fernando Muslera
- Defenders:Guillermo Varela, Jose Maria Gimenez, Diego Godin, Martin Caceres
- Midfielders:Nahitan Nandez, Matias Vecino, Rodrigo Betancur, Cristian Rodriguez
- Forwards:Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani
Portugal Team News, Updates, and Facts
Portugal Team News
Ricardo Quaresma made a big impact in place of ineffective Bernardo Silva against Iran, scoring the opening goal – a brilliant, curling strike from distance with the outside of his foot – and should retain his place against Uruguay. Bernardo Silva has failed to live up to his performances with Manchester City last season. Andre and Adrien Silva also came into the starting line-up against Iran but Goncalo Guedes and Joao Moutinho – who they replaced – were both brought on as late substitutes.
Portugal Key Players
Cristiano Ronaldo (striker) – His missed penalty against Iran was a rare blip at a World Cup in which he has already scored a hat-trick against Spain and become the top-scoring European international footballer of all time with his goal against Morocco.
Ricardo Quaresma (winger) – Experienced winger wound back the clock to score a brilliant goal in the draw with Iran.
Jose Fonte (centre-back) – Together with Pepe, Fonte will be tasked with keeping Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani under wraps.
Portugal Group stage round-up
Portugal 3-3 Spain
Portugal 1-0 Morocco
Portugal 1-1 Iran
Portugal’s World Cup got off to an entertaining start as Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw with Iberian rivals Spain. Ronaldo’s third – a free-kick – salvaged a point late on. He scored another against Morocco to break the European record for all-time international goals but his missed penalty in the final match against Iran proved costly. Portugal Football team were set to top the group until a controversial video-reviewed penalty allowed Iran’s Karim Ansarifard to level. Iran nearly won it even later in stoppage time, but Portugal survived to go through.
Portugal Team Form
Portugal have drawn four of their last six matches, including the two draws in the group stage. They also drew with Tunisia, despite leading 2-0, and that was followed by a goalless draw with Belgium. Aside from beating Morocco, Portugal’s only other win in their last six games was a 3-0 defeat of Algeria – courtesy of Goncalo Guedes’ double – in their final World Cup warm-up match.
Portugal Predicted Starting Line up
Expected Line up: 4-4-2
- Goalkeeper:Rui Patricio
- Defenders:Cedric Soares, Pepe, Jose Fonte, Raphael Guerreiro
- Midfielders:Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho, William Carvalho, Joao Mario
- Forwards:Goncalo Guedes, Cristiano Ronaldo
Uruguay vs Portugal Head-to-Head Stats
Portugal and Uruguay have only met twice before, with the last of two friendlies a 1-1 draw back in 1972. Their only other meeting was ahead of the 1966 World Cup, when Jose Torres’ hat-trick gave Portugal a 3-0 win.
Uruguay vs Portugal Stats
Uruguay have won their last six matches without conceding a goal
Luis Suarez has scored in each of Uruguay’s last two matches, and has four in their last six in total.
Portugal have only won three of their last nine matches, but they have only lost one of their last 15.
Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored more international goals than any other European footballer following his four in the group stage.
Uruguay vs Portugal Betting Tips
Uruguay have been in the better form of these two teams – that much is obvious from the fact they qualified as group winners.
Portugal had the tougher group, however, and Uruguay were unconvincing in their wins against Egypt and Saudi Arabia at the start of the tournament.
The 3-0 thrashing of Russia stepped things up, but Portugal are a much tougher opponent and with just one defeat in 15 matches they will take some beating.
Uruguay’s biggest assist has been their defensive assuredness – they have not conceded in six consecutive games – while they boast both Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez up front.
Cristiano Ronaldo has four goals at this World Cup already, however, and will be keen to bounce back from missing a penalty in the draw with Iran.
His frustrations in that match were clear, as he also survived a VAR review about alleged violent conduct, but he will be expected to bounce back as only he can.
With Ronaldo on top form, and attacking options around him like Ricardo Quaresma – who scored against Iran – and one of Goncalo Guedes or Andre Silva, Portugal can certainly break down the Uruguayan defence.
There is very little between these two teams, and that is reflected in the largely similar odds available for all three match outcomes, but Portugal – having been crowned European champions despite a slow start in that tournament – have more to give in this tournament yet.
Uruguay vs Portugal Recommended bets with odds
Uruguay are actually slight favourites to beat Portugal in their last-16 match, though there is very little in it – Beet365 are offering 9/5 on Uruguay to win, and 2/1 on both the draw and Portugal to win. Betfair, Betway and 10Bet also have Portugal at 2/1.
They key for Portugal will be breaking down the Uruguayan defence, but they boast a better attacking line-up than the six times that have been shut out so far in 2018. Both teams to score is a generous 5/4 with 10Bet and 888sport. Portugal to win and BTTS is as high as 13/2 with Bet365, Ladbrokes and 888sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be the key man in that regard, and he is 8/5 with 888sport to score at any time, adding to his four goals in the first two matches.
Luis Suarez has scored in each of Uruguay’s last two matches, meanwhile, and he is a best price of 2/1 – same as Edinson Cavani – to score at any time.
With so little between the teams, Portugal are 11/1 with Bet365 to win in extra time, while Uruguay are 10/1.
Uruguay vs Portugal Prediction
Uruguay may have topped Group A without conceding a goal, but Portugal are a much stronger opposition. With Cristiano Ronaldo spear-heading their attacking charge, the Group B runners-up can book their place in the last 16.
Correct score prediction:
Uruguay 1-2 Portugal
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June 29, 2018
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