Portugal vs Sweden Prediction & Betting Tips - International Friendlies

Prediction published on 19/03/2024, 15:45  by Nella Wagah | Modified on 21/03/2024 at 07:45 in Football Predictions

Portugal will host Sweden in an international friendly on Thursday, aimed at ramping up their preparations for Euro 2024. A tough run in the qualifiers means Sweden will not be taking part in this edition of the Euros. Portugal, on the other hand, will be looking to continue with their good run of 2023. In the entirety of 2023, Portugal conceded in just one of their 10 matches, winning all. They conceded two goals in the 10 games, but scored at least two in eight. Those two goals were conceded at home in a 3-2 win over Slovakia and Portugal will be keen on another shut-out here. As preps for Euro 2024 take shape, Portugal fans will hope their four months without action haven't slowed the team. With six straight home wins, five with clean sheets, Portugal will be confident of winning here. In their fine run in 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo netted six times in nine matches he played. In his last four matches against Sweden, the Portugal skipper scored seven goals. He will be key for them here too.

Sweden are facing a side that has dominated them in recent years. In the last five meetings between these two sides, Portugal won four. Sweden boasts of just a win in their last 12 meetings. Coming here on the back of a disappointing 2023, they will hope for better tidings. They did finish the year on a high, beating Estonia 2-0 and also beat Estonia 2-1 in their opening game of 2024. The challenge goes a scale higher against Portugal, their first away game since the shock 3-0 loss to Azerbaijan. Despite being drawn in a tough group for the Euro qualifiers, Sweden was expected to qualify. Their decline has been on though, having also done poorly in the Nations League. In 2022 they finished bottom in their Nations League group and suffered a consecutive relegation. In the 2024 edition of the Nations League, they’ll be in League C.