Portugal vs Spain Predictions and Betting Tips, 15 Jun 2018

The Match Is Over. Score: 3-3

Portugal v Spain Predictions for Friday's World Cup finals group fixture at Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi. Just three games into the tournament and we have a battle well-worth passing for a semi-final or so, as the reigning European champions Portugal face the 2010 World Cup winners Spain in their opening game in Group B action on Friday.

Match status: 2018 World Cup Group Stages
Kick-off: Friday 15 Jun 2018, 06:00pm GMT
Venue: Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi

Portugal Team News & Form

There's little doubting that Portugal and Spain will dominate this division and the only question is who are going to contest a last-8 place against who: Russia, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Honestly, any opponent looks quite beatable and should pose little threat to the likes of Spain and Portugal.

Selection of the Quinas have done exceptionally under Fernando Santos in recent years, qualifying for the World Cup 2018 finals as Group B dominants who amassed 27 points of the possible 30 after reaching the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup, where they exited thanks to Chile in a 0-1 extra time defeat last year, having previously won the Euro 2016 in what was a hard-fought European campaign for the Portuguese.

Spain Team News & Form

Similarly, following the 2-0 1/8 finals elimination by Italy at the Euro 2016 at Stade de France, Spain have not suffered a defeat in the course of two years, which counts 18 games including the World Cup qualifiers. As much as Santos's men, Spain team led by Julen Lopetegui took full control over their qualifying group and rarely looked threatened.

It was not a big World Cup warm-up campaign for La Furia Roja as they had played only six friendlies since the 1-0 win over Israel in October 2017, the most remarkable of all was a 6-1 mauling of Argentina in March but they also drew to Russia, Germany and Switzerland - and will the lack of winning spirit tell at the finals in Russia?

Teams' Potential Starting Line-ups:

Portugal (4-4-2): Patricio; Guerreiro, Alves, Pepe, Soares; Quaresma, Mario, Carvalho, Silva; Ronaldo, Silva.

Spain (4-3-3): Gea; Alba, Ramos, Pique, Odriozola; Iniesta, Busquets, Alcantara; Silva, Costa, Isco.

Injured or Suspended Players:

Portugal: No missing players.

Spain: Daniel Carvajal.

Head-to-Head Record: Portugal v Spain

UEFA Euro 2012
Portugal 0-0 (0-1 aet) Spain

2010 Friendly International
Portugal 4-0 Spain

FIFA World Cup 2010
Spain 1-0 Portugal

UEFA Euro 2004
Spain 0-1 Portugal