Portugal vs France Betting Predictions and Odds – Nations League 2020
Direct duel for group victory
Competition: Portugal vs France
Competition: UEFA Nations League
Date: 14.11.2020
Betting Tips Draw-no-bet: 2
Odds: 2.23
Stake: 6/10 units
The penultimate matchday of the second edition of the UEFA Nations League creates tension in many places. The football fans can look forward to high-quality football with a competitive character after the arduous friendly matches. The highlight of this weekend is undoubtedly the new edition of the European Championship finals from 2016. This time, however, Portugal and France face each other in Lisbon.
For France, on Saturday evening it is not only about successful revenge for the bitter final defeat four and a half years ago, but also in a direct duel for the group victory in season 3. After four games, both teams have and had to show ten points in their accounts only accept a loss of points in a direct duel.
If there is a winner on Saturday at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz, he will also be the winner of the group. Thanks to the home advantage, the best bookmakers see Portugal against France as easy favourites according to current odds.
Portugal – Statistics & current form
For the insignificant friendly game this week, Portugal fished an opponent against whom Fernando Santos could easily have sent his C-Elf into the race. In the home game against Andorra, the reigning European champions celebrated a 7-0 victory. A game, which does not serve to draw any conclusions about the (pre) decisive duel against France.
Only one goal in eight international matches
In the statistics, however, clear success looks good. Particularly superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, after recovering from an ankle injury, he played for one half, was able to increase his goal account to 102 goals and is only seven goals behind record-holder Ali Daie (Iran).
But not only the statistics of CR7 are impressive, but also the recent appearances of the Portuguese national team. Since a 1-2 defeat in Ukraine in October 2019, the Iberians have been unbeaten and celebrated six wins in eight games.
Even more impressive is the fact that Portugal only conceded one goal in those eight games (in a 4-1 win against Croatia). In the last five international matches, Portugal did not concede a goal and therefore the tip between Portugal and France is that not both teams score.
Strong home record
Not only the current constitution speaks for Portugal, but also the convincing home record. Since a 3-0 draw against the Netherlands in March 2018, the Portuguese have been without a defeat at home, in 15 home games, Portugal celebrated nine wins and drew six times.
The probable lineup of Portugal:
Rui Patricio – Rui, Dias, Duarte, Semedo – Neves, Pereira – Guerreiro, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva – Ronaldo
Last games from Portugal:
Friendly match
11/11 2020 Portugal 7 – 0 Andorra
UEFA Nations League A Grp. 3
10/14 2020 Portugal 3 – 0 Sweden
10/11 2020 France 0 – 0 Portugal
Friendly match
10/07 2020 Portugal 0 – 0 Spain
UEFA Nations League A Grp. 3
09/08 2020 Sweden 0 – 2 Portugal
France – Statistics & current form
Didier Deschamps joined an elite circle in the summer of 2018 because he is only the third person to have achieved the world championship title both as a player and as a coach. Despite this success, the now 52-year-old does not enjoy a special standing in his home country. The performances of the French national football team are viewed critically.
Countless top players are available
The expectations of the media and fans are enormous, but this is quite understandable when looking at the existing player material. France has an enormous number of international top stars. In the current lineup, for example, the currently fit Ousmane Dembele, Ferland Mendy, Dayot Upamecano, Aymeric Laporte or super talent Eduardo Camavinga are searched in vain.
The French can provide two or three top-class teams without any problems – without any major loss of quality. In this respect, Deschamps has to master the difficult task of keeping all potential players happy. Before the three international matches, Deschamps acted as a mental trainer and recently strengthened ailing players such as Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane.
Embarrassment against Finland
Due to the width, the French appearance on Wednesday evening was all the more surprising. France had to admit defeat 2-0 at home against the EM debutants Finland. For the first time after twelve international matches (10-2-0 record) France conceded a bankruptcy again.
From the starting line-up against Finland, only Clement Lenglet and Paul Pogba will be on the pitch again on Saturday. The embarrassing defeat has increased the pressure on Mbappe & Co again, failure will not be tolerated. Due to the poor goal difference (four goals behind), a draw could not be enough for France.
The probable lineup of France:
Lloris – Hernandez, Varane, Lenglet, Dubois – Coman, Kante, Pogba, Sissoko – Griezmann, Martial
Last matches from France:
Friendly match
11/11 2020 France 0 – 2 Finland
UEFA Nations League A Grp. 3
10/14 2020 Croatia 1 – 2 France
10/11 2020 France 0 – 0 Portugal
Friendly match
10/07 2020 France 7 – 1 Ukraine
UEFA Nations League A Grp. 3
09/08 2020 France 4 – 2 Croatia
Portugal vs France – Direct comparison / H2H balance
21 of the 26 games between the two teams so far have been friendlies, with Equipe Tricolore having 15 wins compared to just five defeats in a direct comparison.
France also had the upper hand in the competitive games at the European Championships in 1984 and 2000, as well as at the World Cup in 2006, before they had to cope with the bitter home defeat in the aforementioned European Championship final due to an Eder hit.
The last duel so far was the first leg in the current Nations League, which took place in the final stadium of the Euro 2016. The top game could not even begin to meet expectations. In a game without any major highlights, the teams parted with a goalless draw. Four of the five competitive games between Portugal and France ended with a successful bet on the draw after 90 minutes.
Portugal vs France betting odds compared
Betting Prediction: Portugal
Odds: 2.37
Betting Prediction: Draw
Odds: 3.25
Betting Prediction: France
Odds: 3
Portugal vs France Betting Predictions and Odds by PicksSoccer Experts
In the case of a draw, in the UEFA Nations League it is not the goal difference that counts, but the direct comparison. This makes the duel in Lisbon more or less a final, because the winner has the participation in the Final Four of the four group winners from League A firmly in his pocket. Due to the initial situation, Portugal has all the trumps in their hand, because even in a draw, Portugal is ahead of the game due to a four-goal difference.
Key facts – Portugal vs France tips
- Portugal has not lost in 15 home games
- Tired kick at 0-0 in France in October
- Four goals behind – France is doomed to win
Although both teams have outstanding qualities on the offensive, a peat festival is not to be expected. This is also proven by a look at the previous competitive games of the two teams, all direct duels ended with an under 2.5.
The balance between offensive and defensive will be a fine line for the players on the pitch. A prediction on the three-way market turns out to be extremely difficult because a clear trend cannot be discerned. Basically, the teams are on an equal footing, the home advantage speaks for Portugal and the slightly higher quality in terms of breadth for France.
