Serbia 2-4 Portugal - European Championship 2019 Statistical Preview

Probable Lineups Statistical Comparison

(17) 14 Goals 16 (22)

31.5 Average Age 30.5

187.5 Average Height (cm) 181.4

* Values in brackets (x) are overall player statistics in EURO Qualification Grp. B.

Missing Players

Serbia

Portugal

No missing players.

Player	Reason	Status
Pepe		Out

Player

Reason

Status

Pepe

Out

Team News

Serbia

Portugal

Luka Jovic's emergence over the last 12 months has forced Serbia into playing with two strikers. In turn, this has pushed Dusan Tadic to the flanks.
With fewer central midfield spots available, two of Luka Milivojevic, Nemanja Matic, Sasa Lukic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will have to settle for a place on the bench.
Matic has not started a Premier League game for Manchester United this season and in theory should not be in the running to start on Saturday. But he is vice-captain...

Atletico Madrid wonderkid Joao Felix is the future of the Portugal national team but Cristiano Ronaldo is still the present. It will be up to manager Fernando Santos to get both in the team in a system that works for now.
Portugal have a number of talented central midfielders but Santos' will have limited spaces if he goes with Ronaldo and Felix up front together.
22-year-old uncapped centre-back Ferro has impressed for Benfica this year but Santos is unlikely to steer clear of experience away to Serbia. With Pepe injured, Jose Fonte is expected to start on Saturday.

R	Team	W	D	L	Pts
2	Portugal	5	2	1	17
3	Serbia	4	2	2	14

Team

Pts

Portugal

Serbia

Prediction

Serbia and Portugal were considered favourites when Group B were qualified but both have endured indifferent starts to their respective qualification campaigns.
Serbia have four points from their first three matches and bounced back from a heavy 5-0 defeat a back from a heavy 5-0 defeat away to Ukraine with a 4-1 win over Lithuania at home.
Portugal have started their group with draws to Ukraine and Serbia. Not bad results on paper but both matches were played at home and it now applies more pressure on their away matches.
Both teams have scored in the last five matches between the two sides and three of those games have ended 1-1. Another draw here would not be a surprise.

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Probable Lineups