Portugal vs Iceland Prediction 19.11.2023

• Competition: European Qualifiers - Group J
• Date: Sunday, 19th, November 2023
• Kickoff: 19:45 UTC / 20.45 CET
• Venue: Estadio Jose Alvalade (Lisbon)

With the objective of ending their European qualifiers on a high, Portugal is preparing to host the lamenting Iceland at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Sunday evening.

Spearheaded by the unstoppable and unrelenting Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal blew away the competition in Group J without any difficulty, securing a place in the first hat for the draw of the Euro 2024 finals in Germany already after the October qualifiers. Incredibly, Roberto Martinez's men have claimed nine triumphs from as many qualifying matches, something no other European nation has managed. Indeed, the completely relieved Portuguese managed to maintain their 100% group record, comfortably defeating minions Liechtenstein with 2-0, thanks to goals from CR7 and Joao Cancelo.

Despite being a formidable opponent in recent years, striking fear into many top national teams, Iceland surprisingly underperformed in the EURO 2024 qualifiers, managing a disappointing tally of 10 points from a total of nine matches at this level. A disastrous performance has ousted Coach Age Hareide's team from contention for a direct spot in the final tournament in Germany, forcing them to lay all their cards on the table in the UEFA Nations League play-offs, desperately seeking a last chance. In a crucial match to keep their qualification hopes alive, Strakarnir okkar, despite an early lead, endured a difficult 2-4 defeat against Slovakia, now facing the risk of losing the fourth spot in Group J on the final day.

Portugal vs Iceland Betting Tips: Over 2.5

Even though the encounter with Iceland is a mere formality, the expectation is for Portugal to accomplish what has never been done in their football history - sealing their EURO qualifying group with an immaculate record. Simultaneously, the unrivaled Cristiano Ronaldo will be further fueled, aiming to conclude the qualifying campaign as the top scorer, ahead of Romelu Lukaku, sharing the top spot with him in the goal-scoring charts - 10 apiece. What sets Roberto Martinez's team apart is an exceptionally lethal attacking line that has rattled the opponent's net an incredible 19 times in the last four qualifying tests, boasting an unprecedented average of five goals per match. While the Icelanders enter Sunday's showdown as clear underdogs, we believe they have the capability to convert some of their opportunities into goals through counterattacks, albeit without overly ambitious expectations regarding the outcome. 

While Hareide's men have successfully etched their names on the scoresheet in three out of the four previous encounters against Portugal, their hopes for the final day of the group stage seem feeble, especially considering that, aside from the devastating 7-0 victory over Liechtenstein, they have lost all three other away games, conceding 3+ goals in each.

Approaching the Sunday clash unburdened by any pressure but with the aim to conclude the group stage in spectacular fashion with 10 wins out of 10 matches, we anticipate an exhilarating and captivating game, where choosing Over 2.5 should prove to be the right call in the end.