International break is here. It is not exactly the most exciting time for football fans, but the race for the 2022 World Cup would, to a great extent, help the fans not miss club football.
The clash between the reigning Euro and Nations League champions and a nation hoping to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since gaining independence in 1991.
The two teams, along with Serbia, the Republic of Ireland, and Luxembourg, reside in UEFA Group A. Qatar occupies a “friendly” spot in the five-team group.
Portugal vs Azerbaijan Form
Portugal were beaten just once in eight games in 2020 and emerged victorious in five of those.
Progressing past the qualifiers hasn’t been a problem for them, but performance in the finals has been. In 2014, they failed to go beyond the group stages while they exited the competition at the last-16 stage in 2018.
Selecao also failed in their Nations League title defense. A 1-0 loss to France saw them exit the tournament at the group stage.
However, they remain obvious favorites to win the upcoming clash.
Tonight’s visitors in Turin have a rather ugly World Cup qualifiers record, having won a mere seven of their 58 qualifying fixtures.
They have failed in each of their last six attempts to get to the finals – and the chances don’t look very bright this time either.
Portugal vs Azerbaijan Team News
Regular first-choice goalkeeper Rui Patricio was not included in Fernando Santos’ 26-man squad list. Patricio suffered a worrying head injury during Wolves’ 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Andre Gomes, Pepe, Nelson Semedo, and William Carvalho, meanwhile also did not make the cut.
Predicted XIs:
Portugal: Lopes; Cancelo, Dias, Fonte, Soares; Pereira, Moutinho, Fernandes; Jota, Ronaldo, Felix
Azerbaijan: Balayev; Medvedev, Huseynov, Badalov, Kryvotsiuk; Huseynov, Qarayev, Mustafayev, Salahly; Emreli, Sheyadaev
