UEFA Nations
2022-06-12 - Switzerland vs Portugal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Nations League League A
Sunday 12th June 2022 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Switzerland
Relegation from League A of the Nations League has become a real possibility for Switzerland after losing their opening three Nations League fixtures. A struggle for goals and a defence that is giving up too many good chances is a recipe for disaster and Switzerland are also heading for a place in the second pot for the Euro 2024 Qualifiers.
It has been a surprising set of performances in June from a Switzerland team who edge out European Champions Italy to top their World Cup Qualifying Group three months ago. In reality, Switzerland were fortunate to avoid relegation from their last Nations League Group having finished with the same number of points as Ukraine, and it is going to take three big performances to avoid playing in League B in a couple of years time.
Switzerland have not won any of 5 games since Qualifying for the World Cup and they have lost 4 of those fixtures which is a concern before the Finals begin in Qatar in November. They have been better at home for the most part though and Switzerland had been unbeaten in 13 games here, although that run was ended in the 0-1 defeat to Spain on Match Day 3 of the Nations League.
Portugal
One more win has to be the aim for Portugal to round out their June Nations League fixtures and it will put them in a strong position to Qualify for the Finals next summer. They won the first Nations League before underperforming at Euro 2020, but Portugal look like they are going to be heading to Qatar with a lot more confidence than a few months ago.
Qualifying for the World Cup was not as comfortable as it perhaps should have been, but Portugal have made the Finals and they have backed that up by taking 7 points from the opening three Nations League games. It means they have a 2 point lead over Spain and have already secured a draw away from home against their main rivals in this section.
Portugal have won 4 of their last 5 games, but all of those victories have come at home including back to back Nations League wins over Switzerland and Czech Republic. The form away from home has been a little mixed and Portugal have drawn their last 2 competitive fixtures on their travels, although Portugal have won half of their 6 away Nations League games.
Head to Head
Portugal thumped Switzerland 4-0 at home on Match Day 2 in this Group.
Switzerland are unbeaten in their last 2 at home against Portugal, but have not hosted them since the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers in September 2016.
Prediction
It has been a really poor Nations League campaign for Switzerland and they need to be much improved if they are going to find a way to avoid relegation to League B.
They need a big result on Match Day 4, but Switzerland have been struggling and now they have to face a Portugal team who have been scoring plenty of goals.
I am a little concerned with backing Portugal away from home, but they may have enough firepower to secure the three points against a team they beat easily at home on Match Day 4. This will be much tougher, but backing Portugal on the Asian Handicap is the play.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Switzerland 0-1 Portugal
