Poland vs Portugal: Preview, predictions and lineups

Portugal will aim to make it three wins on the bounce at the start of their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign when they visit Poland on Saturday night.

First-time 2018/19 Nations League winners Portugal still depended on Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals to help them to 2-1 wins against Croatia and then Scotland during the September international break. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner now has 132 goals for his country.

Poland are similarly reliant on their aging striker to fire them to victory in the form of Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski, who scored from the spot in the recent 3-2 win over Scotland. However, he failed to find the net in a 1–0 defeat at home to Croatia in the following game.

Portugal have prevailed in recent meetings, winning six of the previous 13 meetings. Both nations were drawn in the same group in 2018/19 League of Nations where Portugal were crowned champions, with Poland going down with a 3-2 defeat and securing a 1-1 draw in both matches.

here it is 90 minutes guide to Portugal’s battle with Poland this weekend in the A League.

Head-to-head record in Poland v Portugal (last five games)

Current form (all competitions)

Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny retired after Euro 2024 from international and club football but has since come out of retirement to a short step with Barcelona. However, he is not yet available to be selected by Michal Probierz.

Szczesny’s new Barcelona team-mate Lewandowski is included in the October squad after a fantastic goalscoring run at the start of the 2024/25 season, with Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior and the summer signing of Inter Piotr Zielinski.

Michael Ameyaw, Maxi Oyedele and Mateusz Skrzypczak could all make their debuts after being called up to the senior squad, but Adam Buksa and Mateusz Wieteska miss out through injury.

Expected line-up of Poland against Portugal (5-3-2): Skorupski; Kaminski, Walukiewicz, Bednarek, Kiwior, Zalewski; Szymanski, Urbanski, Zielinski; Friday, Lewandowski.

Roberto Martínez has included some new faces in his Portugal team, with Faro goalkeeper Ricardo Velha and Mallorca midfielder Samu Costa making the cut. Chelsea’s Renato Veiga could also make his debut, with club-mates Joao Felix and Pedro Neto also involved.

Ronaldo has been selected once again as he continues his legendary international career and will hope to start against Poland. Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and Milan’s Rafael Leao will provide attacking support for the veteran.

Sporting CP duo Pedro Goncalves and 17-year-old Geovany Quenda have missed out after featuring in the September squad, while Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos is injured.

Expected line-up of Portugal against Poland (4-3-3): coast; DALOT, A. Silva, Dias, Mendes; B. Silva, Palhinha, Fernandes; NETO, Ronaldo, Leao.

Portugal have made a perfect, if somewhat unconvincing, start to their Nations League campaign, overcoming Croatia and coming on late to beat Scotland in their opening games. They have rarely blown away the opposition over the last six months and it is unlikely to be a strong victory on Saturday.

They will be forced to work hard to get three points against a stubborn Poland that likes to defend deep space and limit. Probierz’s men have the individual quality to cause problems if Portugal get complacent.

However, Ronaldo and co. should secure a third straight win to extend their lead at the top of their A-League group, with their attacking firepower and midfield ingenuity likely too much for the Polish rearguard.

Prediction: Poland 0-2 Portugal

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