Portugal vs Slovenia Prediction & Match Preview

Portugal vs Slovenia Prediction

Despite not winning a single match in the group stage, Slovenia advanced to the knockouts as the third-placed team in the section.

The only Balkans nation remaining in the tournament will now face Portugal in the round of 16 on Monday evening at Frankfurt Arena.

• Slovenia are unbeaten in nine successive games across competitions.
• Portugal won Group F after just two rounds.
• Slovenia dispatched Portugal 2-0 in a friendly three months ago in Ljubljana.
• None of Slovenia’s last four matches in all competitions provided three or more goals.

Slovenia showcased incredible defensive resilience to allow just two goals in three inaugural matches at the tournament.

Matjaz Kek does not possess an immensely-talented roster but his team’s determination has secured them three draws in a very difficult Group C.

Slovenian tough schedule will continue on Monday as they take on Portugal in the battle for the quarter-finals.

The Portuguese outfit enter this off the back of a shocking 0-2 defeat to Georgia in the last game in the group.

Nonetheless, Roberto Martinez’s troops had earlier dispatched the likes of the Czech Republic and Turkey to secure the first place in the group after just two rounds.

Portugal vs Slovenia Predicted Lineups and Team News

Roberto Martinez made nine changes to the starting lineup from the inaugural two games at the Euro on Wednesday. The only two starters who “survived” were Cristiano Ronaldo and goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

Martinez should recall his key players for the knockout game as we expect the same roster that demolished Turkey 3-0 in the second round.

Slovenia will be without left-back Erik Janza whose yellow card offence from the match against England made him suspended for this affair. This could be a big problem for Matjaz Kek who will likely need to rely on Alanyaspor’s left-back Jure Balkovec against the Portuguese.

Portugal (4-3-3): Costa – Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Mendes – Vitinha, Palhinha, Fernandes – Silva, Ronaldo, Leao

Slovenia (4-4-2): Oblak – Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec – Stojanovic, Gnezda-Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar – Sporar, Sesko

Portugal poised for a narrow win

The fact that Slovenia did not lose a single match in a group with England, Denmark, and Serbia speaks volumes about their resilience. Matjaz Kek’s men rely heavily on stern defence led by one of the best goalkeepers on the planet in the like of Jan Oblak.

The Slovenians kept England at bay in a very important final-day match in the group stage on Tuesday.

Portugal did not impress on the opening day against the Czech Republic, completing a hardly-fought late comeback on the occasion. They did demolish Turkey in the second round but the momentum was kind of ruined by a shocking 0-2 defeat at the hands of Georgia on Wednesday.

Also, these two teams faced each other in a friendly just over three months ago. Slovenia dispatched Portugal 2-0 in Ljubljana on the occasion.

Obviously, Portugal are big favourites to advance from this tie. However, we can’t find value in backing their win at the 1.40 odds.

Instead, we will back draw at the half time and Portugal’s victory at the end at the attractive 4.00 odds. Slovenia have shown enough to make us trust them to have what it take sto cause Portugal problems in the first half.

Jan Oblak to shine in low scoring encounter

Rock-solid defence is Slovenia’s main strength. Matjaz Kek has no other option but to park the bus here.

The Slovenians were capable of keeping all of their three games in the tournament low-scoring. None of their last four outings in all competitions provided three or more goals.

When you add the 2-0 win for Slovenia in a recent exhibition against Portugal, you get to see why we like the Under 2.5 goals bet so much at the odds of 1.80.

Steffen Schmidt- June 28, 2024

Portugal vs Slovenia Betting Tips

HT/FT Draw/Portugal

OK

4.00 Odds

Portugal 2-0

OK

6.60 Odds

Under 2.5 goals

OK

1.88 Odds