Portugal vs Turkey Prediction & Match Preview

Aron Wright - March 22, 2022

Portugal vs Turkey
World Cup Qualification
Date: Thursday, 24 March 2022
Kick-off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Estádio do Dragão.

Portugal face a nightmare scenario this coming week. Their golden generation might have to wait another four years to participate in a world cup, and it’s a doubt if they could even be termed ‘golden’ by that time.

Anyway, talisman Cristiano Ronaldo will not be there in 2026, and this Qatar edition was supposed to be his swansong. Will one of football’s greatest players leave the game with his head bowed down? Fans are eager to see.

Anyhow, the real battle is expected to take place in the Final, where Italy are expected to take on the 2016 European champions.

However, the Turks cannot be just written off, and the Portuguese had committed the mistake of underestimating their rivals in the final game of the First Round, which actually costed them the top-most position – and thus, a direct ticket to the 2022 World Cup.

Expect the whole of the country to turn up at Estadio do Dragao this Thursday, and it is certainly going to be hard for the Turks to deal with this much hostility – especially since they are already the underdogs.

But they do have a puncher’s chance, and will try to make it as hard as possible for the 2016 European champions.

Expect a tough 90 minutes for either squad, and count on the hosts (Portugal) to grind out a hard-fought win.

Portugal vs Turkey Head-to-head (h2h)

• The Portuguese have a 100% winning record, barring a single clash.
• Not once have they failed to find the back of the net against this rival.
• They had scored two or more goals in all but three meetings.
• The latest fixture between the two had ended in a 1-3 win for Turkey.

Portugal vs Turkey Prediction & Analysis

Not only are the Portuguese one of the heavyweights in world football, but they also have the best squad depth in international football at the moment – possibly after France.

They will also be eager to gift talisman Ronaldo a final shot at glory, by helping him get to Qatar.

Meanwhile, the Turks have won just four of their past ten overall matches, and they have also recorded a total of four wins from their past ten road trips. And it also deserves special mention that they have a worrying h2h record against this foe.

Likely, expect a tightly-fought fixture this Thursday, but count on the hosts to deliver a close win.

Key Stats for Betting

• Cristiano and co have lost just twice at home in the past five-year period, and one of these losses had come against current world champions France.

Tips for Portugal vs Turkey

• Half Time Correct Score: 0-0 Draw @ 3.25 (9/4)

• Full Time Correct Score: 1-0 Portugal @ 7.00 (6/1).