Preview: Belgium vs Portugal
Prepare for an electrifying showdown as an in-form Belgian side meets a resilient Portugal, with Eden Hazard and Cristiano Ronaldo leading the charge in the UEFA Euro 2020 Round of 16 at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville.
Belgium
Reaching out for a place in the last sixteen but falling short, tournament debutants Finland were defeated by Belgium on Match Day 3. Eden Hazard returned to the starting line-up in the much-changed Belgian side that had already secured a spot in the last 16.
As expected, the Red Devils dominated possession, ending the game with 61% of the ball. With momentum building, Kevin De Bruyne navigated through a sea of white shirts, although his cut-back was blocked from reaching its intended target. A few more clear-cut chances came and went in the first half.
After the break, Finland continued to live dangerously, surviving only with the heroics of goalkeeper Lucas Hradecky, who made one save after another. However, he turned from hero to villain when a cross-bar and his wayward hand combined to send the ball over the goal line for an own goal in the 74th minute.
Having inspired the 2-1 comeback against Denmark, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku rekindled their lethal partnership once again. De Bruyne assisted Lukaku for Belgium's second goal, securing a top finish in Group B with 9 points from 3 wins.
The Portuguese remain formidable opponents, but drawing from Germany's experience, the Red Devils know that the Navigators can be overcome. Coach Roberto Martínez is expected to opt for the familiar 3-4-2-1 formation, or a similar 3-4-3 setup, as Belgium returns unbeaten in six games across all competitions.
Portugal
Portugal picked up a point on Match Day 3 after holding France to a 2-2 draw. Despite finishing third in Group F, their performance was good enough to see them qualify for the round of 16. The Navigators matched Germany in points and goal difference, but they fell short on head-to-head since they suffered a 4-2 defeat to the Germans.
Cristiano Ronaldo moved closer to Ali Daei's world record of 109 international goals, handing Portugal the lead from the penalty spot in the 31st minute. Half an hour later, he became the joint-top international scorer, equaling the record with another strike from the penalty spot.
Before Ronaldo's brace, a dubious penalty at the stroke of halftime saw Karim Benzema level the scoreline for France. Two minutes into the second half, the Real Madrid forward was seen celebrating after a goal initially ruled offside was overturned by a VAR check, leading to an exhilarating match.
The scales oscillated between Portugal and Germany throughout the group, as Germany came back twice against Hungary in another fixture to keep themselves in contention for a spot in the last 16. Fernando Santos is expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formation on Sunday, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the attack once again. Portugal returns with a form that reads: WDWWLD.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.