Ireland will play their seventh match in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they welcome Portugal to Dublin this Thursday.
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Key Statistics
Ireland are on a four-game unbeaten run (W2, D2).
They have lost just two of the last ten matches they have registered as the home team.
Ireland have scored eight times but have also conceded eight times in this World Cup qualifiers campaign.
Portugal are currently on a five-game-winning run in all competitions.
They have scored 16 goals and conceded four times in the World Cup qualifiers.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 11 goals in his last nine appearances for Portugal.
Head to head
Both teams have met seven times in the past. Portugal won three of those games, while Ireland won two times (D2).
Latest Performances in all competitions
Ireland: W-W-D-D-L
Portugal: W-W-W-W-W
Ireland
Ireland welcome Portugal to Dublin on the back of a two-game-winning run in all competitions but are already out of running for a place in Qatar after winning just two of their opening six games in the qualifying rounds.
The hosts are sitting in fourth place in Group A with five points, eleven points behind Portugal who are occupying second place.
Their aim in this match is to keep their decent home form which has seen them lose just two of their last 14 home games intact.
Steven Kenny has no injury worries at the moment.
Possible Ireland starting line-ups
Gavin Bazunu; Shane Duffy, Seamus Coleman, John Egan; Matt Doherty, Conor Hourihane, Dara O’Shea, James McClean; Aaron Connolly, Callum Robinson, Shane Long.
Portugal
Portugal will look to go top of their World Cup qualifier group when they travel to the UK this Thursday.
Fernando Santos’ are sitting in second place in Group A, behind leaders toppers Serbia by just one point having played a game less.
They go into this game on a five game-winning run and will be looking to secure the top spot as they prepare for the final two matches of their World Cup qualifying campaign.
The visitors defeated Ireland the last time both teams met with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring two late goals to end the host’s chances of playing in the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
Since crashing out of the Euros, Portugal have won all five of their games and have scored 16 goals in those five matches while shipping in just two.
They will look to continue that hot streak and build up momentum ahead of the World Cup, which is just a year away.
Possible Portugal starting line-ups
Rui Patricio; Raphael Guerreiro, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio; Otavio, Rúben Neves, Bruno Fernandes; Andre Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota.
Prediction
Ireland 1-1 Portugal.
