Spain vs Portugal Predictions

• The previous four meetings between the two sides have ended in a draw.
• Three of the last four battles have ended 0-0.
• Spain have kept three clean sheets in their last five home matches.

Spain to extend unbeaten run

Spain and Portugal begin their 2022/23 Nations League campaign on Thursday night at the Estadio Benito Villarmain in Seville. Thursday’s tie marks the start of a busy run for both sides, who will play four times in the Nations League during June.

Luis Enrique will get the chance to assess his squad as they prepare to face their rivals, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, but his side will start with the toughest fixture first.

Spain have won four games in a row in all competitions, while they last lost a game on Spanish soil in 2018.

Portugal continue to be a tough nut to crack

Portugal are not the powerhouse they once were, but they continue to punch above their weight under Fernando Santos.

They were made to go through the playoffs to secure their spot at the 2022 World Cup.

With the World Cup on the horizon, Portugal need to start finding some form, and they know what it takes to avoid defeat against their arch-rivals. Portugal are unbeaten in the last five meetings between the pair, while they have only lost twice in the previous ten fixtures against Spain.

Injuries to play their part in Seville

With the regular domestic campaign only just behind us, there are plenty of walking wounded in the camps of both Portugal and Spain.

Enrique will be unable to call upon the services of Aymeric Laporte and Pedri, while Thiago may be handed limited game time due to his exploits in the Champions League final.

Portugal defender Ruben Dias will miss the tie through injury, and Santos will be forced to plug the gaps as best he can.

Neither side will be at full strength this week, and that should mean the two sides cancel each other out, and with fitness concerns dominating the headlines at the minute, there’s every chance both managers have to limit the playing minutes of key players.

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