Portugal vs Scotland prediction, betting tips and odds: Hosts should be too slick for Scottish defence

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Where to watch Portugal vs Scotland

You can watch Portugal vs Scotland in the Nations League at 7.45pm on Sunday, September 8, live on ITV4 and ITVX

Match prediction & best bets

Portugal to win & over 3.5 goals
2pts 15-8 Betfair, BoyleSports, Paddy Power

Scott McTominay to be first goalscorer
0.5pts each-way 20-1 bet365

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Portugal vs Scotland odds

Portugal 2-9
Scotland 15-1
Draw 11-2

Odds correct at time of publishing

Portugal vs Scotland predictions

Scotland's hopes of qualifying for the last 16 at Euro 2024 ended when they conceded a 100th-minute goal to lose 1-0 to Hungary and they suffered another late blow in Thursday's Nations League opener against Poland. 

Having battled back from 2-0 down at Hampden Park thanks to second-half goals from Napoli new boys Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay, Scotland gave away an injury-time penalty which was converted by Poland's Nicola Zalewski.

Captain Andy Robertson had spoken before the game of the need to make amends for their Euros disappointment so the Poles' 97th-minute winner was a major setback for Scotland in front of their own fans.

They are as big as 15-1 to bounce back with victory in their toughest assignment in Group A1 - an away fixture against Portugal at Lisbon's Estadio da Luz.

The betting suggests Scotland may not have to worry about conceding another decisive injury-time goal as Portugal are expected to run out comfortable winners.

They started their European Championship campaign by beating the Czech Republic 2-1 and Turkey 3-0 but both of their knockout ties ended goalless after 120 minutes.

A 3-0 victory on penalties against Slovenia in the round of 16 was followed by a quarter-final shootout defeat to France in which Portugal had 60 per cent of possession but mustered only four shots on target.

Manager Roberto Martinez has kept his job and the 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo resisted calls to join fellow veteran Pepe in international retirement after the Euros.

Ronaldo was on the scoresheet in Thursday's 2-1 home win over Croatia, claiming his 900th career goal, and he will fancy his chances of adding to his tally against Scotland.

Portugal won all ten of their Euro 2024 qualifiers, averaging 3.6 goals per game, so backing them to win a contest featuring over 3.5 goals looks a good bet.

Scotland have lost 3-1 to England, 4-1 to France and 4-0 to the Netherlands in friendlies in the past year and they were thrashed 5-1 by Germany in their Euro 2024 opener.

McTominay merits a small each-way bet in the first-goalscorer market. He had five of Scotland's 11 shots against Poland, scored in the Group A draw with Switzerland at the Euros and racked up seven goals in just eight qualifying appearances.

Key stat

Portugal scored 21 goals in their five home Euro 2024 qualifiers

Portugal vs Scotland team news

Portugal
PSG striker Goncalo Ramos (ankle) is sidelined but the hosts have no fresh injury concerns. Nelson Semedo and Joao Neves are pushing for starts after coming on at half-time against Croatia.

Scotland
Steve Clarke is missing the injured Kieran Tierney, Che Adams, James Forrest, Greg Taylor and Robby McCrorie while Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor has retired from international football. Lyndon Dykes and Lawrence Shankland are competing for a place up front.

Probable teams

Portugal (4-3-3): Costa; Dalot, Dias, A Silva, Mendes; B Silva, Vitinha, Fernandes; Jota, Ronaldo, Leao

Scotland (4-2-3-1): Gunn; Ralston, Hanley, McKenna, Robertson; McClean, Gilmour; McGinn, McTominay, Christie; Dykes

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