Ireland – Portugal : Preview & Prediction
Ireland and Portugal meet at Aviva Stadium, in a match for the World Cup – Europe Qualifiers (Group Stage). In this match, the home factor may play an important role, as Ireland has significant differences in the results achieved at home and as a visitor.
The home team is currently in the 4th position, with 5 points won, after 1 win, 2 draws and 3 losses. In the penultimate match, they tied at home against Serbia, by (1‑1). In the last match, they won in an away match against Azerbaijan, by (0‑3). This is a team affected by the home factor, stronger when they play in front of their fans, since in the last 30 matches they register 3 wins, 6 draws and 6 losses in away matches, with 14 goals scored and 16 conceded, against 5 wins, 7 draws and 3 home defeats, with 17 goals scored and 9 conceded. The team comes for this match after a home win against Qatar, by (4‑0). Ireland has won 2, drawn 5 and lost 2 of the last 9 home matches. Defensive consistency hasn’t been their best feature, as they have conceded goals in 5 of the last 6 matches, but their offense has scored consistently, as they have scored goals in 5 of the last 6 matches for this competition. In their home matches there is a tendency towards few goals, as 4 of their last 9 matches ended with Under 1.5 goals and 7 in 9 ended with Under 2.5 goals. In 15 matches, they have only turned the score around in the 7 matches they have conceded the first goal.
The Republic of Ireland enters this game with a victory, by 4-0, against Qatar, in a preparatory game for the next official matches: the team’s goals were scored by Callum Robinson (3) and Shane Duffy. In the last match in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, the Irish beat Azerbaijan 0-3. In this game against Portugal, coach Stephen Kenny must maintain the usual 3-4-3, favoring a more cautious style of play, attacking through the side aisles. The home team is a team that likes to play in their midfield, with the objective of trying to surprise their opponents through the counterattack. All players are available for this game.
The away team is currently in the 2nd position, with 16 points won, after 5 wins and 1 draw. In the last match, they won by (5‑0) at home against Luxembourg, after having won by (0‑3) in an away match against Azerbaijan in the previous match. This is a team little affected by the home factor, that is, they have similar results at home and away, since in the last 30 matches they register 9 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses in away matches, with a total of 31 goals scored and 12 conceded. At home, they won 11 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, with a total of 43 goals scored and 9 conceded. In the last 10 away matches Portugal has won 6, drawn 3 and lost 1. Their offense has scored consistently, as they have scored at least one goal in the last 6 matches for this competition. In 15 matches, they have turned the score around in 3 of the 4 matches they have conceded the first goal.
Portugal’s national team comes for this match after a 5-0 victory against Luxembourg, thus adding their fourth consecutive victory in this qualifying phase for the 2022 World Cup: the team’s goals were scored by Cristiano Ronaldo (3), Palhinha and Bruno Fernandes. Coach Fernando Santos should keep his standard tactical system, 4-3-3, favoring the maintenance of ball possession and attacks organized along the flanks. Cristiano Ronaldo is the great scorer of the Portuguese team with 6 goals scored in this competition. For this game the Portuguese coach cannot count on Nuno Mendes due to suspension.
Ireland – Portugal : Betting Tips
Portugal – Win Odds: 1.45
Both teams to score / YES – Odds: 1.70
Over 2.5 Goals – Odds: 1.70
