Luxembourg vs Portugal 17/11/19

17 November 2019

Portugal travel to Stade Josy Barthel to take on Luxembourg looking to grab three points and secure the top-two finish in the 2020 UEFA European Championship Qualifying (ECQ) Group B.

The hosts have suffered four consecutive defeats ahead of this game, conceding precisely three goals per match in the last three. Luxembourg’s only triumph in the qualifying campaign has come at home, and as their remaining two home results (L2), it has seen both teams score and winners of the day score in both halves. A fragile defense can be a major influence here, given that Les Lions Rouges have conceded at least one goal in 12 of their previous outings, friendlies included. Five of Luxembourg’s last six competitive home matches have produced over 2.5 goals, with Luc Holtz’s men drawing a blank only once across those fixtures. 

The visitors have to pick up all three points here as they sit only one point above third-placed Serbia ahead of the final group fixture. After playing out back-to-back draws at the beginning of their qualifying campaign, the reigning European champions have won four of their subsequent five ECQ matches (W4, L1) and are in good shape ahead of this trip. All four of those victories have seen Portugal net at least three goals, including a 6-0 dismantling of Lithuania a few days ago. A Seleção tend to move through the gears after the break, as 13 of a total of 18 goals they’ve scored across those triumphs came in the second half.