Euro 2024
2023-10-13 - Portugal vs Slovakia
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier
Friday 13th October 2023 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Portugal
A thumping win over 3rd placed Luxembourg has continued Portugal's perfect run in this Qualifying Group and put the team on the brink of securing their place in Germany next summer. One more win should do it for Roberto Martinez and his squad and Portugal could then give begin to prepare for a better major international tournament than the last couple of Finals have been.
The upset to Morocco in the World Cup Quarter Final was a really disappointing result for Portugal, who also struggled at the last European Championships. Roberto Martinez has guided the team to 6 straight wins in this Qualifying Group and Portugal are 8 points clear of Luxembourg with just four games left to play.
Portugal will be looking to extend their winning run under Roberto Martinez and the strongest performances have been at home having won all 3 Qualifiers in front of their own fans by three or more goals. Those results also mean Portugal have won 5 home Qualifiers in a row since the upset loss to Serbia that forced them to go through the World Cup Play Offs.
Slovakia
They have not reached the World Cup since 2010, but Slovakia are looking to play at the European Championship Finals for a third tournament in a row. Chasing down Portugal is not really an ambition, but holding off Luxembourg for 2nd place in the Group could largely be decided next Monday when they visit their closest rivals for a top two finish.
There are 3 points between 2nd placed Slovakia and Luxembourg, but a defeat on Monday will give the latter the head to head tiebreaker. They can see this fixture as a 'free hit' against the top team in the Qualifying Group, but Slovakia may already be focusing on that big game coming up which could go a very long way to deciding whether they or Luxembourg finish behind Portugal.
Slovakia have won 4 of their last 5 Qualifying games since the draw with Luxembourg, although the sole defeat was to Portugal at home last month. They have won away games at Iceland and Liechtenstein within this Qualifying Group, and have won 3 away Qualifiers in a row after ending a run of 6 away games without a Slovakian victory.
Head to Head
This is the sixth time Portugal and Slovakia are meeting in a competitive fixture and it is Portugal who have won 4 of the previous 5, including the game last month.
Portugal have won both home games against Slovakia, but last hosted them in June 2005 in a World Cup Qualifier.
Prediction
Four more points will guarantee Portugal's place at Euro 2024, although they may need even fewer if Luxembourg are not able to win at Iceland on Friday.
Roberto Martinez won't be worrying about other results and will want his Portugal team to continue building on the momentum from his relatively short time in charge of this national team.
Portugal should be focused, but it may be a little more difficult for Slovakia who may feel the game at Luxembourg coming up is the pivotal one for them in this Group.
A win in that one will put Slovakia in a strong position with two Qualifying games left and they may not want to exert too much effort in Portugal in a fixture they would be expected to lose.
With the home team scoring plenty of home goals, Portugal should have enough to win this game and cover the Asian Handicap set.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Portugal 3-0 Slovakia
