Ronaldo leads Portuguese charge

Ronaldo leads Portuguese charge

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By Mark Gleeson

Cristiano Ronaldo was all bloodied and bruised but again showed his value at the weekend as Portugal were catapulted to the top of their Nations League group by beating the Czech Republic away and seeing Spain lose at the same time.

Tonight sees the decisive clash in the group as the 37-year-old Ronaldo, who will earn a record-extending 191th cap, and his Portuguese compatriots host their neighbours in Braga, holding a two point lead and effectively needing only a draw to win the group and advance to next June’s Nations League finals.

It is the last game day of group matches in the Nations League and, on top of the clash in Portugal, there are other key ties in the promotion battle as this month’s international window – the last before the World Cup in November – comes to an end.

Spain were well in command of their group but Saturday’s shock home loss to Switzerland has left them with no other option but to win away in Portugal if they are to top the group. This Spanish team is a pale shadow of the side that won the World Cup 12 years ago, or even the European Championship thereafter, while Portugal’s side is bristling with top stars from the Premier League like Manchester City’s Ruben Dias, Diogo Jota from Liverpool and Ronaldo’s Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes.

Given that the previous five meetings between Portugal and Spain all ended inn draws – including at the last World Cup finals in Russia – it is likely this one will be a stalemate too, although if there is to be a winner Portugal must be fancied.

In the bid for promotion to the top tier of the Nations League, Ukraine host Scotland in neutral Poland needing a win to deny the Scots top place. The clash between them comes six days after Scotland convincingly beat Ukraine in Glasgow but the Scots are poor travellers, and Ukraine should bounce back.

There is also a decisive League B clash in Oslo between Norway and Serbia which will decide the outcome of their group.

Serbia are headed to the World Cup in Qatar and this is their last warm-up game. They have Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrović in top form but then Norway have a certain Erling Haaland leading their attack. Here a draw is the likely outcome.