Portugal vs Lithuania
EURO Qualification
Date: Thursday, 14 November 2019
Kick-off at 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
Venue: Estádio Algarve (Faro/Loulé).
PORTUGAL
A 2-1 defeat in Ukraine last time meant Portugal could no longer finish top of Group B, but a victory here coupled with Serbia dropped points will confirm second place.
By Joao Felix injured, Goncalo Paciencia has been called into the squad along with teammate Andre Silva and Eintracht Frankfurt will be hoping to add to the solitary cap in 2017.
Fellow striker Eder and Diogo Jota also back in the squad but Nelson Semedo has pulled out after suffering an injury in the weekend, so in the form of Ricardo Pereira Leicester right-back could make his first appearance since last year's World Cup.
Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Rui Patricio; Ricardo Pereira, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Raphael Guerreiro; Danilo Pereira, Joao Moutinho, Bruno Fernandes; Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruma
Not available: William Carvalho (Hurt), Nelson Semedo (Hurt), Andre Gomes (Hurt), Joao Felix (Hurt), Goncalo Guedes (Injured)
doubtful:
LITHUANIA
Lithuania has taken just one point from seven games in this campaign and have lost nine of 11 of their last European qualifying match away from home.
Coach Valdas Urbonas has made four changes to his squad with Zubas Emilijus goalkeeper, midfielder Mantas Kuklys and Vykintas Slivka, and captain Fedor Chernykh back after injury.
Winger Arvydas Novikovas is set to return to the side after serving a suspension against Serbia and will likely take place Ovidijus Verbickas, who suffered injuries.
Predicted line-up (4-1-4-1): Setkus; Baravykas, Klimavicius, Girdvainis, Mikoliunas; Simkus; Chernykh, Vorobjovas, Kuklys, Novikovas; D. Matulevicius
Not available: Verbickas (Injured)
doubtful:
Lithuania vs Portugal Betting Tips
When Portugal host Lithuania on Thursday night they will be looking to continue their attacks on places of qualifications. The visitors will be hoping to do better than they did when they lost by five goals to one in the reverse fixture.
Last time out, Portugal hopes to close the gap between them and the leader of the Ukrainian, despite the contrary. After losing by two goals to one in a foreign land, the Portuguese found themselves eight points behind Ukraine, who've now confirmed themselves as champions of Group B. The European champions are in a prime position to secure the second qualification spot, although with only one sitting Serbia points behind them, it is imperative that the win this match.
Playing at home has not exactly been a pleasant experience for Fernando Santos 'men', which failed to win any of their first two group matches in Portugal, drew 0-0 with Ukraine and then 1-1 with Serbia. They did beat the minnows Luxembourg last in action at home, but 3-0 was not too impressive. Fortunately, they have an easy task, Thursday.
Old group already difficult for Lithuania, which came into the match after a record eight-day zero wins, six losses and a draw. They had conceded far more goals than they have scored and generally failed to compete. When they face Portugal in the cage, they do not offer a modicum of promise going forward and were rewarded with a goal, but they struggled defensively, conceding five times.
From the standpoint of bets of view, this is a tough game. The Portuguese were the odds-on large and rightly so, despite supporting them to just come out on top, which is what they almost certainly will do, offer no value. One bet that do make little appeal is 'Portugal to Win and Under 3.5 Goals'. For all of Portugal will be too good for the visitors, they were not exactly fly home. Even against the minnows Luxembourg last time they did not exactly go overboard. If we also consider that Lithuania, although the offer side there is a threat offensively, kept things respectable when recently visited Ukraine, losing only by two goals to nil, it is easy to feel that support home win of the relatively low-key is the best way to go.
