Luxembourg vs Portugal: Head to head statistics
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Match preview
Will Portugal enjoy another comfortable victory to start Euro 2024 qualifying?
On Thursday night, in Roberto Martínez’s first game in charge, they smashed the group’s minnows Liechtenstein 4-0 at Estádio José Alvalade.
João Cancelo and Bernardo Silva on target in Lisbon, before Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a brace, firing home both a penalty and then a free-kick, the latter something of a rarity.
This is actually just the third time ever Ronaldo has netted a direct free-kick in back-to-back games, after also bagging one against Abha last weekend.
A Seleção haven’t failed to qualify for a Euros since 1992 and, in a frankly weak group, will face little difficulty maintaining that fact.
Here, Portugal will take on familiar foes, with this set to be their ninth clash against Luxembourg in the last 12 years.
On matchday one, the Red Lions held Slovakia to a credible goalless draw in Trnava, with Gerson Rodrigues twice going close to a winner.
Luc Holtz’s side won three of eight World Cup 2022 qualifiers, making it Luxembourg’s best-ever campaign, in terms of points per game.
D’Roud Léiwen have beaten Lithuania, Faroe Islands, Azerbaijan, Republic of Ireland, San Marino, Moldova and Belarus in recent times, also notably holding France to a goalless draw six years ago.
A win here would top the lot, so can the hosts claim an historic victory at Stade de Luxembourg?
Luxembourg team news
Gerson Rodrigues is the undisputed start of this team, scoring 15 international goals, including the opener when Portugal last visited Luxembourg, a game that ultimately ended 1-3.
Anthony Moris is also a very decent goalkeeper, playing for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, and he’ll have to be at his very best here.
Winger Sébastien Thill is most famous for scoring a stoppage time winner in the Champions League at the Bernabéu during his time with FC Sheriff.
Predicted XI (4-4-1-1): Moris; Bohnert, Chanot, Gerson, Pinto; Martins, Barreiro, Sanches, Sinani, Olesson; Rodrigues.
Portugal team news
Cristiano Ronaldo won his 197th cap on Thursday, becoming the most-capped men’s player of all-time, surpassing Bader Al-Mutawa of Kuwait’s record, for now at least, as he is still active.
Nine of Ronaldo’s record-breaking 120 international goals have come against Luxembourg, the most against any single opponent.
He’s likely to continue to lead the line, with Bernardo Silva and João Félix in support.
Roberto Martínez used a back three during his four year spell as Belgium manager, and deployed a 3-4-3 in his first game in charge of Portugal.
21 year old Gonçalo Inácio centre-back was the big beneficiary of this, making his senior international debut.
Players hoping to come into the XI include Pepe, Nuno Mendes, Rúben Neves and Rafael Leão.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Patrício; Danilo, Dias, Inácio; Cancelo, Palhinha, Fernandes, Guerreiro; Silva, João Félix, Silva, Ronaldo.
