Portugal, though, took a winning start in the Nations League thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 900th career goal, which set up a 2-1 win over Croatia. Diogo Dalot put Roberto Martinez’s charges in front after 20 minutes, only for the 39-year-old to score his 10th of the year in the 34th minute to double his side’s lead. However, it was a night of mixed fortunes for Dalot as he registered a goal against his name, only for his own to play a part in Croatia pulling one back before Portugal prevailed with a 4-2 victory.
He helps Portugal past Croatia 2-1 to reach the UEFA Nations League, becoming the first footballer to score 900 career goals.
Their goal never felt sustainable, as midway through a half, Diogo Dalot also opened the scoring for the hosts. Portugal hardly looked troubled, only to fall behind before the hour mark as Dalot turned the ball past his own goalkeeper.
Even without the weight of history around him, Ronaldo was the pick of the bunch, bursting onto a Nuno Mendes cross to volley it past Dominik Livakovic, triggering raucous celebrations in Lisbon.
Portugal vs Croatia Prediction: Bets, Context, and Lineups
Probable Lineups for Portugal National Football Team Vs Croatia National Football Team
The probable lineup for Portugal in the “system of play.”
Costa; Mendes, Dias, Pepe, Cancelo, Fernandes, Palhinha, Vitinha, Leao, Silva, Ronaldo
The probable lineup for Croatia in the “system of play.”
Livakovic; Gvardiol, Pongracic, Sutalo, Stanisic, Kovacic, Brozovic, Modric, Sucic, Pasalic, Kramaric
Hosts to claim all three points
Despite neither nation overly impressing at the Euros this summer, Portugal has the upper hand in the competitive head-to-head fixtures.
Within those matches, Portugal hammered Croatia 4-1 in the Nations League – and how they would love to repeat that result.
This time round might not produce a scoreline of that size, but Croatia’s aging team was carved open in the Euros group stage, and Portugal’s quality and pace should see them create plenty of opportunities.
Therefore with Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, and Cristiano Ronaldo, Croatia’s defense will be in for a tough evening in Lisbon.
Best Bets for Portugal vs Croatia
Portugal Victory with odds of @1.60 on Parimatch, equating to a 62% chance of the hosts winning.
Bernardo Silva will score with odds of @4.00 on Parimatch, indicating a 25% chance of the Portuguese winger scoring.
Over 2.5 goals with odds of @2.00 on Parimatch, representing a 50% chance for three goals or more.
Portugal should be expected to win against Croatia by a scoreline of 2-1.
Player of the Match – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Ronaldo’s clearly not the player he once was, but with time, he finally caught up to one of the fittest athletes in world sport.
But he was still the quickest thinker in the penalty area as Mendes was given space and the opportunity to drive the ball forward, with Ronaldo showing he’s picked up more than a few smarts in 1,235 professional games.
Player Ratings
PORTUGAL: Costa 7, Dalot 7, Dias 7, Inacio 6, Mendes 8, B Silva 7, Vitinha 6, Fernande 7, Neto 6, Ronaldo 8, Leao 6. Subs: J Neves 6, Semedo 7. A Silva 5, Jota 6, Goncalves 6.
CROATIA: Livakovic 7, Sutalo 6, Pongracic 5, Gvardiol 6, Jakic 7, Modric 5, Baturina 7, Kovacic 6, Sosa 7, Pasalic 6, Kramaric 7. Subs: Caleta-Car 7, Matanovic 8, L Sucic 6, Perisic 6, P Sucic 6.
Match Highlights
7′ – GOAL! PORTUGAL 1-0 CROATIA (DALOT): What a start for Portugal! It’s Fernandes at the heart of things again as he ghosts in from the left and has plenty of options to choose from, finding the Manchester United full-back’s perfectly timed run with a deft flick. Dalot still had a bit to do running away from the goal and was tracked by Borna Sosa, but he’s able to open up his body and fire under Livakovic to take the lead!
23′ – ALMOST NUMBER 900! So the crowd is desperate to see history made tonight, and they almost get their moment as Ronaldo latches onto a cute Rafael Leao backheel at full speed. Though he produces a well-placed low shot, it’s a tight angle, and Livakovic positions himself perfectly to make the save and concede only a corner.
34′ – GOAL!! PORTUGAL 2-0 CROATIA (RONALDO): It’s the moment they all came to see goal number 900 for Cristiano Ronaldo! And it was brutally simple, too, a fizzing Nuno Mendes cross from deep that the legend reacts quickest to of anyone in the penalty area, latching onto the ball with his right boot straight past a helpless Livakovic.
45′ – HIT THE BAR! What a finish to this half! Neto is flying down the left, and as the defense scrambles, he just keeps on trucking before launching a laser from close range. It has Livakovic beaten but slams into the bar and away from Ronaldo.