[Euro 2020] Match Preview: Belgium vs Portugal - Can this be a usurpation of the throne 👑?

Here comes the most outstanding match in the last-16 stage of Euro 2020 taking place in Seville tonight. Belgium – the unbeatable leader 💪 of Group B with an awesome 100% winning percentage will face off Portugal – the current champion 👑 of the European Championship. Who is going to be the fallen one?

Recent performances

Belgium headed into the knock-out round as the winner of Group B with three wins from three matches. The Red Devils started with a 3-0 success over Russia, then record a hard 2-1 victory over Denmark and defeated Finland with a 2-0 score. The Red Devils are now unbeaten in their last 12 matches and will fancy their chances of winning the title.

Belgium haven’t advanced past the Euro’s quarter-finals since finishing as the runner-up in 1980

Portugal qualified from Group F after a dramatic final round. Portugal had an impressive start with a 3-0 win over Hungary – even their goals only came from the last ten minutes, then suffered a shocking 2-4 loss against Germany before picking up a 2-2 draw against France.

Portugal are the holders of the Europe Championship and they willsurely do everything at all cost to keep their title tonight

Head-to-Head

This is the 19th meeting between Portugal and Belgium; Portugal has six wins to their name, while it’s five for Belgium. The two sides played out draws in seven previous matches.

Their most recent fixture is a goalless friendly warm-up for the 2018 World Cup

Injuries & Suspensions

Timothy Castagne will miss the rest of the tournament after suffering a double fracture to his eye socket during the 3-0 win against Russia. Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne are also expected to start alongside Lukaku in the front line.

Nuno Mendes will have a late fitness test to determine his availability for the clash with Belgium. Nelson Semedo and Danilo Pereira both have issues in the match against France but they should be fine to start for Portugal.

Possible line-ups

Belgium

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld – Dedryck Boyata – Jan Vertonghen
Midfielders: Thomas Meunier – Youri Tielemans – Axel Witsel – Thorgan Hazard
Forwards: Eden Hazard – Romelu Lukaku – Kevin De Bruyne

Portugal

Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio
Defenders: Nelson Semedo – Ruben Dias – Pepe – Raphael Guerreiro
Midfielders: Joao Moutinho – Danilo Pereira – Renato Sanches
Forwards: Bernardo Silva – Diogo Jota – Cristiano Ronaldo

Prediction

This is an incredibly difficult game to predict, but I guess a tie draw and a penalty shoot-out will be fair for both teams. The luckier team will win this extreme clash!