Portugal face Uruguay on Monday night in a rematch of the 2018 World Cup knockout tie between the pair.
Pepe cancelled out Edinson Cavani’s opener before El Matador completed his brace in Sochi’s Fisht Stadium, sending Uruguay into an unsuccessful quarter-final against France.
In search of a second successive round of 16 tie – against different opposition this time – both sides went in goalless at the break of their opening fixtures. Portugal came out on top after five goals in a thrilling second half against Ghana, but Uruguay couldn’t penetrate South Korea’s rear-guard in a spiky stalemate.
Here’s everything you need to know about the meeting between Group H’s top-ranked sides.
Portugal vs Uruguay H2H Results (All Time)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
Portugal team news
Nuno Mendes had been struggling with muscular discomfort which kept him out of Portugal’s opener against Ghana. Otavio joined the PSG wingback in the recovery room after sustaining a hamstring problem during the match.
Portugal Starting 11 (4-3-3): Costa; Cancelo, Pereira, Dias, Guerreiro; Bernardo, Neves, Carvalho; Fernandes, Ronaldo, Felix.
Bench: Patricio, Sa, Andre Silva, Dalot, Pepe, Palhinha, Vitinha, Mario, Nunes, Horta, Ramos, Antonio Silva, Leao.
Uruguay team news
Ronald Araujo’s World Cup looked to be over when he was forced into thigh surgery at the end of September. Nevertheless, Diego Alonso selected the Barcelona centre-back who is expected to only be available from the knockout stage onwards – if Uruguay make it that far.
Uruguay Starting 11 (4-3-3): Rochet; Caceres, Godin, Gimenez, Oliveira; Valverde, Bentancur, Vecino; Pellistri, Suarez, Nunez.
Bench: Muslera, Sosa, Coates, Vina, Varela, Rodriguez, Torreira, Ugarte, De la Cruz, Arrascaeta, Torres, Canobbio, Gomez, Cavani.
These sides are a messy amalgamation of wizened experience and youthful exuberance. For each Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez, there’s a Joao Felix and a Darwin Nunez.
Both managers came into the competition with vocal ambitions of winning the World Cup. While neither are among the first bracket of favourites for the trophy, Portugal should have the edge in the head-to-head on Monday night.
Although, in a match which could be defined by grit despite the glitz on show, Uruguay won’t give up three points without a scrap.
Prediction: Portugal 2-1 Uruguay
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