Portugal vs Chile Prediction
🔊 How do you prepare for the World Cup when your opponent has lost their way and won't even be at the tournament? For Portugal, it's business as usual. They have little concern for Chile's issues and certainly won't be offering any favors. The "European Brazilians" are heading to North America with one clear goal-to lift the trophy-and Chile provide the perfect test for their attack against a side likely to sit deep and defend in numbers. However, there's a twist: Portugal haven't beaten Chile once in the 21st century. Will they finally break that streak this time?
Head-to-Head
📊 So far this century, Portugal and Chile have met just twice, with the Portuguese yet to claim a victory. Their first encounter came in 2011 in Leiria, where the sides played out a 1-1 draw in a friendly. The most memorable clash between these teams took place at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. In the semi-finals, after a goalless stalemate through regular and extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shootout. Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo delivered a remarkable performance, saving spot-kicks from Ricardo Quaresma, João Moutinho, and Nani to send his team through to the final.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Portugal Team Overview
Portugal arrive at the World Cup as one of the tournament’s frontrunners-and they’re not shying away from that label. This is arguably the strongest generation in the nation’s history. The squad booked their ticket to the finals with ease, capping off the qualifiers by dismantling Armenia 9-1, a match that saw both João Neves and Bruno Fernandes notch hat-tricks.
In their last two friendlies, Roberto Martínez’s side were held to a goalless draw by Mexico, before comfortably seeing off the USA 2-0-even without Cristiano Ronaldo in the lineup. Now, as the “European Brazilians” wrap up their tournament preparations, it’s not just about winning-they need to fine-tune their attacking play against defensively-minded opponents. Both DR Congo and Uzbekistan are unlikely to engage in open, end-to-end football during the group stage.
Match Results: Portugal
Chile Team Overview
Chile head into this match as something of a polar opposite to Portugal. The team finished rock bottom of the South American qualifiers, picking up just 11 points from 18 games and enduring a six-match goalless streak. With their golden generation now a thing of the past, La Roja are set to miss out on a third consecutive World Cup.
After Ricardo Gareca’s departure, Nicolás Córdova took over as head coach and immediately set about rejuvenating the squad. Unlike their dismal qualifying campaign, Chile have produced some encouraging results in friendlies. La Roja even put together a four-game winning run before suffering a heavy defeat to New Zealand (1-4) in March-a match that exposed their vulnerability without the ball and highlighted serious issues in building from the back.
Match Results: Chile
Latest news
Portugal
🚫 Four PSG players-Vitinha, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Gonçalo Ramos-will miss this fixture. All four featured in the Champions League final and will only rejoin the squad on Saturday afternoon. Their absence is a major blow to both the midfield and the left flank, but Martinez has prepared backup options for just such a scenario. The rest of the key players are available: Cristiano Ronaldo, having been rested in March, is now fully fit and raring to go, while Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva are ready to orchestrate the attack. In defence, Rúben Dias and Gonçalo Inácio are expected to form the central partnership at the back.
Chile
❌ Erick Pulgar, Flamengo’s key holding midfielder, has once again declined a national team call-up for personal reasons, stating he’s not convinced by the current project and will only return for official tournaments. Ben Brereton Díaz has undergone knee surgery following the end of the Championship season. Marcelino Núñez is also sidelined after nasal surgery.
⚽ Goals Prediction
It’s unlikely that Chile will find the net-without Brereton and Núñez, their attack lacks spark, and Dario Osorio and Gonzalo Tapia are unlikely to break through the “European Brazilians’” back line. Even with squad rotation, Portugal should comfortably score two or three goals at home, but probably not more than that-the friendly status of the match and a cautious approach ahead of the World Cup will have an impact. A well-founded prediction is under 3.5 total goals at 1.68*. This bet has landed in 11 of Chile’s last 12 away friendlies.
🚩 Corners Prediction
Over their last ten matches, Portugal have averaged about 65% possession and consistently push their full-backs forward, overloading the attacking third. Focusing on home games, Roberto Martínez’s side deliver more than seven corners per match. Chile are unlikely to offer anything other than a deep defensive block, so Ronaldo and company should hit their usual numbers. The recommended bet is over 5.5 Portugal corners at odds of 1.56*.
*Odds are approximate and may vary between bookmakers.
Editorial Prediction
Portugal will be without four of their PSG stars, but even with those absences, their squad remains stacked-Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo and a host of other big names should have little trouble against Chile’s young and inconsistent back line on home soil. La Roja’s attack tends to struggle when facing top-tier opponents, so our editorial team expects the hosts to dominate this fixture and secure a routine 2-0 victory. The main betting pick is a Portugal win with a -1.5 handicap. The “European Brazilians” have won by at least two goals in seven of their last eight home friendlies.
Betting Tips: Portugal - Chile
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in 17 of last 19 games (Int. Friendly Games).in 14 of last 15 home games (Int. Friendly Games).in 7 of last 8 away games (Int. Friendly Games).Comparison of Teams Stats
Other predictions
