Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Nations League match.
In the final matches of the group stage, the Croatia national team fell behind Portugal but have secured a spot in the Nations League playoffs. Despite being the visitors, the Portuguese are the favourites for the return leg. They are in excellent form, while their opponents have frequently faltered defensively.
Croatia
Following a draw with Poland (3:3), Croatia allowed Portugal to maintain a three-point lead, and their defeat to Scotland (0:1) resulted in Portugal winning the group. In Glasgow, Croatia were unlucky with Luka Sučić’s sending-off before halftime—the British capitalised on their only dangerous moment in the late stages. In addition to the Dinamo Zagreb midfielder, Croatia will also miss Andrej Kramarić in the sixth round due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Portugal
Portugal’s somewhat underwhelming Euro 2024 performance and their elimination from the quarter-finals against France (0:1 after penalties)—have motivated them in the Nations League group stage. They've only failed to score away against Scotland (0:0) and dominated at home against Poland (5:1), where Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his skills with a bicycle kick goal. The legendary forward leads the Nations League scorers’ chart with 5+1, while Bruno Fernandes (2+2) and Rafael Leão (1+2) have also contributed significantly.
Croatia vs Portugal Prediction
In the first-round meeting, Portugal gained an early advantage over Croatia (2:1). It's likely that the favourites will again be closer to victory in Split, as Croatia are worn out from a challenging tournament.
