Switzerland VS Portugal Match Prediction

Portugal are on top in the head-to-head record between themselves and Switzerland, but the most recent meeting between the sides, at the European Championship in 2008, resulted in a shock 2-0 win to the Swiss.

However, before that defeat Portugal were unbeaten in seven matches against Switzerland, with that run dating all the way back to the World Cup in 1970.

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Switzerland v Portugal: Prediction

Switzerland struggled for goals at Euro 2016 - although Shaqiri struck one of the best goals of the finals with a stunning acrobatic volley - with just three goals scored in their four games at the finals. Portugal were shock winners but they have a target on their back now and everyone will want to beat them to get the scalp of the 2016 European Championship winners on their CV. How Portugal cope without Ronaldo will be key, but they have a strong enough midfield to win here.

Switzerland v Portugal: Betting Tips

A price of 21/10 on Portugal to win in Switzerland is generous considering the fact they are the champions of Europe, but it reflects the fact that they are without Sanches and Ronaldo, two of their most important players.

There does not look to be a lot of value in the odds of 13/8 for Switzerland to get their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start, but the draw is interesting at around the 11/5 mark. Although odds of 4/7 on under 2.5 goals to be scored in the game are not large, the best looks like a sure-fire winner and it may even be worth taking on the 7/4 on under 1.5 goals to be scored.

Switzerland made it through the group stage of Euro 2016 despite failing to impress particularly strongly in any of their matches, with Vladimir Petkovic mostly sticking with the same group of players. Xherdan Shaqiri is an injury doubt for this game and Switzerland lack a regular goalscorer in their squad, which is likely to make life difficult against Portugal here.

Switzerland likely XI:

Portugal are without Cristiano Ronaldo as the Real Madrid star is still recovering from the knee injury he collected in the Euro 2016 final, while Renato Sanches is also out through injury. Nani scored twice in warm-up match against the minnows of Gibraltar to press his claims for a starting role and he is likely to be the talisman of the team in the absence of Ronaldo.

Portugal likely XI:

Portugal piled up late goals in their thrashing of Gibraltar but it is hard to draw conclusions from a game against such weak opposition. The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo is a blow but Fernando Santos\' men will have to learn to play without him at some point and this is as good a time as any. A low-scoring draw looks to be the most likely result here.

Switzerland have only beaten Portugal once in their last eight attempts, but that victory was in the most recent meeting between the nations.