The Republic of Ireland have the unenviable task of trying to get a result against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in their bid to reach the 2026 World Cup.
Roberto Martinez’s side are one of the big favourites to win the title in North America next summer, with qualification viewed as a certainty by most football fans.
As for the Irish, the main hope is securing a spot in the play-offs, though even that looks a tall order ahead of kick-off in Lisbon later this evening.
Can the Irish spring a surprise at the home of Sporting CP? We will soon find out, but before we do, here is a sports betting preview for the fixture, complete with the latest football betting odds.
And if you are new around here, make sure to activate our Welcome Offer before the start of Portugal vs Republic of Ireland, with £20 in Free Bets and 25 Free Spins up for grabs.
Where can I watch Portugal vs Republic of Ireland in the UK?
Portugal vs Republic of Ireland will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video PPV, with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm.
Portugal vs Republic of Ireland Preview
Portugal are riding the crest of a wave right now after being crowned Nations League champions over the summer.
Martinez’s side beat Denmark 5-3 on aggregate in the quarters, and then came from a goal down to beat Germany 2-1 in the semis.
And the final itself saw Portugal beat long-term rivals Spain on penalties after a 2-2 draw, which saw captain Ronaldo lift his third major international trophy after winning Euro 2016 and the inaugural edition of the Nations League.
Since then, Portugal have continued winning, with back-to-back away victories recorded against Armenia (0-5) and Hungary (2-3).
Ronaldo scored in both of those matches, and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will really fancy his chances of extending his men’s record goal tally when the Irish rock up to Lisbon.
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side are yet to claim a win in Group F, drawing 2-2 with Hungary and then suffering a shock 2-1 defeat in Armenia.
The latter of those two results makes this an even more daunting task for the Irish, with their last match vs a top-10 ranked international side seeing them thrashed 5-0 by England last November.
With Ronaldo set to be supported by Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto and flying wing-back Nuno Mendes, it could be a long night for the visitors.
Portugal vs Republic of Ireland Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Portugal are huge favourites to claim the win here at a price of just 1.13. The Republic of Ireland are at long odds of 19.00, while the draw is 5.50.
Portugal vs Republic of Ireland Betting Tips
Anytime goalscorer – Cristiano Ronaldo @ 1.53
With 11 goals in his last 11 international appearances, taking him to 141 strikes overall, a Ronaldo goal looks a pretty safe bet here. The 40-year-old icon also has four goals in five previous games vs the Irish.
Player to score or assist – Bernardo Silva @ 1.91
Silva scored and assisted in the 3-2 win over Hungary last time out, and with Ronaldo to feed, the Manchester City skipper can bolster his already impressive international stats. In 109 appearances for Portugal, Silva has tallied 14 goals and 29 assists.
Both teams to score – Yes @ 2.33
Portugal have kept just one clean sheet in their previous six matches, while the Irish have scored at least one goal in six of the last eight games. And in Evan Ferguson, the visiting side possess a striker who can feed off scraps and still find the back of the net. So the BTTS market could be a real source of value in this fixture.
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