At Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark and Portugal will compete for a spot in the UEFA Nations League semifinals. These two teams had opposite paths in League A leading up to this first-leg quarter-final. The hosts started strong with two consecutive home victories against Switzerland and Serbia, but then slowed down, securing only two draws in their remaining four Group 4 matches. However, this was enough for Brian Riemer’s squad to finish second and qualify for the knockout stage of the Nations League. Portugal, on the other hand, had a near-perfect campaign, finishing Group A undefeated and securing the top spot. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, the top scorer of League A with 5 goals, Portugal enters this quarter-final as the favorite. Their recent international experience, including their 2019 Nations League triumph, combined with the talent available to coach Roberto Martinez, makes them a strong contender. Despite Portugal’s favored status, they must remain cautious against Denmark. The Scandinavians, seeking their first-ever Nations League semifinal appearance, have no choice but to secure a positive result at home before facing Portugal in the decisive second leg on Sunday, March 23.

Denmark's Recent Form and Key Statistics

After a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, where they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by England, Denmark seemed to have bounced back by winning their first two Nations League matches (both 2-0 against Switzerland and Serbia).

However, after those two victories, Denmark suffered two defeats (both against Spain) and two away draws (2-2 in Switzerland and 0-0 in Serbia). In their six Group 4 matches, Denmark scored 7 goals and conceded 5. At home, they have scored in their last three matches, including a 2-1 loss to Spain.

Portugal's Recent Form and Key Statistics

With 4 wins and 2 draws, Portugal dominated Group 1 of League A, finishing 6 points ahead of Croatia. Over these six games, they scored 13 goals (an average of 2.17 per match) and conceded 5 (an average of 0.83).

Away from home, they recorded 2 draws and 1 win, the latter being a 3-1 victory in Poland last October. Overall, considering their Euro 2024 campaign, Portugal remains unbeaten in their last 8 matches (4 draws, 4 wins), with their only setback being a quarter-final penalty shootout loss to France.

Denmark vs Portugal Prediction and Tactical Overview

The head-to-head history between Denmark and Portugal is clearly in favor of the Portuguese, who have won 4 of the last 5 encounters. The last official meeting in Denmark was on October 14, 2014, when Portugal won 1-0 thanks to a last-minute goal from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Denmark’s coach Brian Riemer will have to cope with the absence of key players like Højbjerg, Christensen, Bah, Poulsen, and Dolberg. Instead, he will rely on the strong form of Gustav Isaksen and the determination of Rasmus Højlund, who has struggled at Manchester United this season.

Meanwhile, Portugal’s Roberto Martinez has all his top players available, including the promising PSG trio of Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, and João Neves. In attack, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the focal point despite being 40 years old, continuing to score regularly in Saudi Arabia.

Given Portugal’s superior attacking talent, their strong record in previous encounters, and Denmark’s key absences, the BetMines algorithm predicts Portugal as the favorite to win.

• BetMines algorithm prediction for the match Denmark vs Portugal predicts the 1 sign at 32%
• BetMines algorithm prediction for the match Denmark vs Portugal predicts the X sign at 26%
• BetMines algorithm prediction for the match Denmark vs Portugal predicts the 2 sign at 42%

Denmark vs Portugal Predicted Lineups

Denmark (4-4-2): Schmeichel; Kristensen, Vestergaard, Andersen, Rasmussen; Isaksen, Eriksen, Højbjerg, Damsgaard; Højlund, Harder. Coach: Riemer

Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Dalot, Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, João Neves, Bruno Fernandes; Pedro Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo, Leão. Coach: Martinez