The bookmakers rate Spain and Portugal broadly the same considering that the former are slight favourites although that mainly comes down to the fact that they have home advantage for this opening Nations League game of the 2021-22 campaign.

Luis Enrique’s side could easily have won Euro 2020 when losing to eventual winners Italy on penalty kicks, with the former Barcelona manager having ensured that the national side have departed the tiki-taka style that was part of their original success in the early 2000’s.

There are still some experienced players within the ranks and none more so than Sergio Busquets who now has 133 caps and continues to man the midfield engine room. The Barcelona maestro is the captain of the side and is joined by club team-mate Jordi Alba, with both players 33 and potentially preparing for their final World Cup.

Alvaro Morata has an enviable strike rate at international level and the Juventus forward is likely to be involved here, with Ferran Torres and Marco Asensio bidding for a starting berth alongside him. Koke, Thiago, Rodri and Dani Olmo means that there are plenty of midfield options.

Can Portugal Land a Nations League Win in Spain?

We’re looking forward to seeing the team that is set out by Fernando Santos who is the long-standing manager of Portugal. It’s likely that Cristiano Ronaldo will be given the chance to lead out the team in what is always a significant clash, with Manchester United team-mate Bruno Fernandes also likely to be involved.

Liverpool’s Diogo Jota might be given a breather considering his team were involved in the Champions League final, with Joao Moutinho and Bruno Neves vying for an inclusion in the midfield department, while Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo is likely to play even if Ruben Dias is likely to be omitted because of injury.

Although this game is a competitive match thanks to the introduction of the Nations League, this game happens soon after the end of the domestic season and it could well be that we see both managers make plenty of changes. It could well be a low-scoring draw between two evenly-matched sides who need to readjust to international competition.

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