Portugal vs Denmark: can the Danes stop the reigning champions?
This is a clash between two sides from the top tier who have already met in this season’s competition. In October, Portugal claimed a 4-2 away win, so Denmark will surely be keen to get revenge. That will be no easy task, though: Portugal boast one of the strongest squads in Europe and have already secured their place in the quarter-finals.
The match will be played at the Municipal Stadium in Braga.
Portugal
Portugal are enjoying an excellent group-stage campaign and have so far given their rivals virtually no chance of challenging for top spot. After four rounds, Jorge Jesus’s side have taken 12 points from a possible 12, scoring nine goals and conceding four. What’s more, Portugal have already guaranteed their place in the quarter-finals.
The national team opened with a narrow 1-0 win over Wales, then beat Norway 2-1. In October, Portugal were involved in a real shootout with Denmark, winning 4-2 away from home before seeing off Norway again, 2-1. That means they have won all four matches, scoring at least twice in three of them.
Squad and coaching changes are another major talking point. In the summer of 2026, Jorge Jesus took charge of the national team, replacing Roberto Martínez. The new coach is gradually shaping the side in his own image, and the November camp has taken on added significance following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the national team. The 41-year-old striker announced his retirement from international football on November 6, ending his Portugal career with 234 appearances and 146 goals.
There is no doubt that this is a huge loss in terms of experience and leadership.
- See also: A great chance to strengthen their position in the EuroLeague. Partizan vs Baskonia prediction
However, Portugal have plenty of players capable of stepping up. Bruno Fernandes remains one of the team’s chief creative forces, while Bernardo Silva, Vitinha and João Neves are also key figures.
In attack, Rafael Leão, Gonçalo Ramos, João Félix and Pedro Neto are all worth watching. Each has the qualities to trouble even the most well-organised defence.
Portugal’s November squad has also seen a few changes. Jorge Jesus has included several young players, among them Geovany Quenda, Rodrigo Mora, Gustavo Varela and Carlos Forbs. In addition, Flávio Nazinho was called up to replace the injured Nuno Tavares.
Francisco Conceição will miss the match through suspension, while Nuno Mendes is also unavailable due to injury.
So, despite being without several key players, Portugal have enough depth to deliver a high-quality performance.
Denmark
The Nations League campaign has been less successful for Denmark. After four rounds, Brian Riemer’s side sit second in Group A4 with six points. They are six points behind Portugal, so catching the group leaders is no longer possible.
The campaign got off to a poor start: Denmark lost 3-2 to Norway before beating Wales 2-0. In October, the Scandinavians went down 4-2 to Portugal but bounced back in their next match, claiming a 1-0 away win over Wales.
Denmark’s main problem is inconsistency at the back. Conceding seven goals in four matches is far from ideal for a team targeting a place in the quarter-finals. Their attacking potential, however, is solid: seven goals scored give them reason to believe they can find the net even against strong opposition.
All eyes will be on Rasmus Højlund, of course. The striker combines pace and physical power, and knows how to exploit the space in behind the defence. He also got on the scoresheet in the previous meeting with Portugal.
Morten Hjulmand provides balance in midfield, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg adds physical presence, and Victor Froholdt can help keep the tempo high.
Gustav Isaksen is a particular threat out wide.
His pace and ability to cut inside could cause serious problems for Portugal’s defenders. Joachim Mæhle and Joachim Andersen are also worth watching, as both play important roles in the team’s defensive structure.
Brian Riemer needs to find the right balance between attack and defence. Denmark cannot afford to leave themselves too exposed against Portugal, but an overly defensive approach is unlikely to deliver the result the visitors want.
Head-to-head record
Historically, Portugal have had the edge. According to UEFA statistics, the teams have met 18 times: Portugal have won 12, Denmark four, and two matches have ended in a draw.
Their most recent meeting took place in Copenhagen on October 1, 2026. The spectators saw six goals as Portugal won 4-2. Denmark took the lead twice through Rasmus Højlund and Morten Hjulmand, but the visitors managed to turn the game around. Portugal went on to score four goals, underlining their superiority in individual quality.
Denmark now have a chance to respond to that home defeat, although doing so away from home will be a tough task.
What can we expect from the match?
In my view, Portugal can afford to experiment to some extent. They have already booked their place in the quarter-finals, so the pressure will be considerably lower. But that does not mean the hosts will take the match lightly. For Jorge Jesus, every game is an opportunity to learn more about his players and fine-tune their understanding on the pitch.
Denmark, by contrast, must treat this as a major test. Their six points currently keep them in second place, but Norway are not far behind. The visitors therefore need to pick up points and avoid leaving their qualification hopes until the final round.
I expect Denmark to take a fairly bold approach, looking to use the pace of Højlund and Isaksen.
That, however, could create extra opportunities for Portugal on the counter-attack. Leão, Neto and Félix can exploit the space, while Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha will provide the quality of passing needed to make it count.
I wouldn’t rule out an entertaining, high-scoring match. The first meeting ended 4-2, and both teams have already shown they can cause each other problems. Even so, home advantage and the superior individual quality of Portugal’s players tilt the balance in the hosts’ favour.
Prediction: Portugal to win.
