Croatia vs Portugal prediction 18/11/2024 | Nations League

• Date: 18/11/2024
• Competition: Nations League
• KO: 20:45 CET
• Venue: Stadion Poljud (Split)

Croatia host Portugal in the UEFA Nations League A, Group 1 on Monday in their final group stage fixture.

Croatia vs Portugal Betting Tips: BTTS / Draw

Following a disappointing 1:0 defeat against Scotland on Friday, Croatia must avoid defeat on Monday if they are to join Portugal in the Nations League quarter-finals next year. 

Croatia sits second in the group with seven points, holding a three-point lead over both Poland and Scotland. Only a home defeat alongside a Scottish win in Poland, with a three-goal swing, would prevent Croatia from reaching the final eight.

With Portugal already assured of top spot, and having released several key players from their initial squad selection, the Croats can be confident of getting the result they need.

Strong on their own turf, Croatia won six and lost just one of their last nine home matches.

Portugal come into Monday's contest looking to finish their campaign unbeaten with 13 points collected from five games played in Group 1. An impressive 5:1 win against Poland on Friday secured top spot for the A Seleção das Quinas.A goalless draw in Scotland was the only blip in an otherwise perfect Nations League campaign for Roberto Martinez´s side.

Unbeaten in nine of their last ten away matches over the past two years, the Portuguese might well have been favourites to win on Monday had they not given permission for the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva to leave the squad early.

Goals are likely if past meetings are anything to go by. Each of five previous encounters since 2018 saw BTTS, including Portugal´s 3:2 win in Croatia in the Nations League four years ago.

A tough match to call, both teams would surely be happy with a point, and with that in mind, I expect a share of the spoils in Split.