Denmark vs Portugal predictions: Ronaldo to lead Martinez's men to first-leg win
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- Denmark failed to win any of their last four Group A4 matches
- Portugal went unbeaten through their Group A1 campaign last autumn
- Recommended bet: Portugal to win to nil
Denmark and Portugal meet for the first time since Euro 2016 qualifying in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. The return leg is in Lisbon on Sunday.
Team news
Brian Riemer was forced into one change with Marseille's on-loan Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg crying off with an injury. Another pair of veterans, Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen and Anderlecht striker Kasper Dolberg, are also crocked.
It means out-of-form Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund is set to lead the line with Old Trafford team-mate Christian Erikson pulling the strings further back.
For Portugal, veteran full-back Joao Cancelo is injured while Roberto Martinez is tempted to pair Vitinho and Joao Neves in central midfield after the Paris Saint-Germain pair starred against Liverpool in the Champions League.
It is hard to imagine 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo not leading the line.
The stats
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Denmark finished second in Group A4 despite failing to win any of their last four group-stage games.
Eight of their last 10 matches have produced two goals or less.
Portugal topped Group A1 with four wins and two draws from their six games.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 135 international goals, 40 more than the entire Denmark squad.
Prediction
The last time Denmark and Portugal met in an international double header was on the road to Euro 2016, with the Portuguese winning both ties by 1-0 scorelines.
Do not be surprised if they repeat that score in Copenhagen in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final.
A Denmark side which looks light in attack may struggle at a rocking Parken Stadium although a more adventurous Portugal may also find it hard work breaking down the disciplined hosts.
The Danes have scored nine goals in their last 10 internationals and Rasmus Hojlund, the likeliest to lead the line, has found the net once since Christmas. His last international goal came 18 months ago.
Portugal are a side full of zip and panache and occasionally get everything right, such as the 5-1 demolition of a poor Poland in November.
Take that out of the mix, however, and it is eight goals in seven and there is little doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo is easier to nullify at the age of 40 than he was at 20.
Roberto Martinez does have plenty of attacking options if Ronaldo fails to come off and Portugal will do much of the attacking. Take them to win it, though not amid a flurry of goals, and if they do, expect a clean sheet as well.
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