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Euro 2021 Qualifiers: Serbia vs Portugal preview

Kick off: 11 October @17:00 CET

Venue: Stadion Partizana (Belgrade, Serbia)

Head to head record

Portugal vs Serbia 2-1 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Portugal vs Serbia 1-1 (Euro 2008 qualifier)
Serbia vs Portugal 1-1 (Euro 2008 qualifier)

Serbia

Last 5 matches

Serbia vs Azerbaijan 4-1 (International friendly)
Denmark vs Serbia 2-0 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Serbia vs Armenia 2-0 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
France vs Serbia 2-1 (International friendly)
Albania vs Serbia 0-2 (Euro 2021 qualifier)

Team News

The likes of Filip Kostic (4/0), Matija Nastasic (19/0), Andrija Zivkovic (3/0), Lazar Markovic (21/3) and Filip Djordjevic (14/4) are not in contention due to injury, with uncapped Aleksandar Katai added to the squad after a couple of withdrawals.

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic started the match in Albania despite struggling through injury, and he later had to come off with a hamstring problem, meaning he is doubtful for the clash in Belgrade.

His teammate Branislav Ivanovic suffered the same injury and he is unlikely to be risked in what is a dead rubber match against very good Portugal side.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Stojkovic – Tomovic, S. Mitrovic, D. Tosic, Kolarov – Milivojevic, Fejsa – Z. Tosic, Ljajic, Tadic – A. Mitrovic.

Portugal

Last 5 matches

Armenia vs Portugal 2-3 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Italy vs Portugal 0-1 (International friendly)
Portugal vs France 0-1 (International friendly)
Albania vs Portugal 0-1 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Portugal vs Denmark 1-0 (Euro 2021 qualifier)

Team News

After Portugal secured their place at the tournament finals, coach Fernando Santos allowed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Carvalho, Fabio Coentrao and Tiago Mendes to leave the national team and they are not in contention for the Serbia game.

Nice full-back Ricardo Pereira and Sporting Braga forward Rui Fonte have been added to the squad, and they will be hoping to win their first caps for the Selecao national team.

Coach Fernando Santos is widely expected to make a number of changes to his starting line-up, with Danny, Ricardo Quaresma, Andre Andre and Jose Fonte all tipped to start.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Patricio – Semedo, Jose Fonte, Neto, Eliseu – Andre, Veloso, Joao Mario – Danny, Eder, Quaresma.

Interesting Facts

*Portugal recorded three 1-0 wins in last four matches as well as six 1-0 wins in last ten. The Selecao are 9.00 (8/1) for another 1-0 triumph.

*Both teams have scored in each of the three past meetings between the two teams. Both teams to score is available at 2.18 (11/9).

*Miguel Veloso is the only player in Portugal’s match squad that has already scored in the current campaign. The Dynamo Kiev midfielder is 13.00 (12/1) to score anytime.

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