Denmark vs Portugal Prediction: 16/5 and 16/1 Anytime Scorers attract interest

A huge game in the Nations League sees Portugal travel to Denmark as they look to book a place in the semi-finals of a competition where they were the inaugural winners. No UK TV coverage has been announced as of the time of publication for the 19:45 kick-off...

Jamie Pacheco thinks both teams to score is the standout bet but has also picked Portugal players at 16/5 and 16/1 as potential goalscorers as he takes us through his Denmark vs Portugal Predictions for us at Betfred Insights...

*You can check out all of the Football Odds we offer over at betfred.com

Denmark 

With all due respect to an ever-competitive and well-drilled Danish team, they can consider themselves pretty fortunate to have got this far.  

Of the eight teams contesting this stage, only the Ukraine had as few points as them: eight.  Denmark got two wins, two draws and two defeats, the secret to their success being that they made the most of home advantage to beat rivals Serbia and Denmark and managed away draws in both of them. There was no disgrace in losing to reigning champions and Euro 2024 winners Spain home and away.  

But maybe we're being a bit harsh on Denmark. Spain won five of their six matches and are probably the best international side in the world right now, so the Danes did exactly what they needed to do in winning on home soil and avoiding defeat on the road.  

Kasper Schmeichel will pick up his 112th cap if as expected, he plays here. Christian Eriksen is still their midfield maestro, while fellow Premier League star Mikkel Damsgaard of Brentford is an important player too. As is Sporting Lisbon's all-round midfielder Morten Hjulmand, who will be up against some familiar faces. Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund has been called up but a lack of minutes and goals under Ruben Amorim may cost him a starting place despite (finally) scoring at the weekend.   

Likely XI: Schmeichel, Roerslev, Nelsson, Vestergaard, Kristiansen, Isaksen, Eriksen, Hjulmand, Damsgaard, Poulsen, Dolberg/Hojlund.  

Portugal  

Portugal were the inaugural winners of this competition but didn't make a semi in their next two attempts.  

But they'll have a chance to make it two from four after topping what was arguably the easiest of the four A groups.  

They beat Croatia, Scotland and Poland at home, also beat Poland away and drew their other two away matches meaning they finished unbeaten, the only side to do so bar Germany and Spain across the four A Groups.   

Roberto Martinez may start three of his PSG-based players with Vitinha and Joao Neves carrying on their successful midfield partnership while the excellent Nuno Mendes should  start at left-back. Diogo Dalot may get the nod over Joao Cancelo for the right-back slot. 

The in-form Bruno Fernandes should complete the midfield trio with Rafael Leao likely to start in a wide position upfront with one of Diogo Jota or Pedro Neto on the other wing. Cristiano Ronaldo should start as usual.  

Likely XI: Costa, Dalot, Dias, Inacio/Veiga, Mendes, Neves, Fernandes, Vitinha, Neto/Jota, Leao, Ronaldo.   

Denmark vs Portugal Odds

These two are no strangers to playing each other. Since 2010 they've faced each other five times, with Portugal winning four of them and Denmark securing a sole win in a qualifier for the Euros in 2011 that they won 2-1 at home with Niklas Bendtner on the scoresheet for Denmark and Ronaldo scoring a 90th minute consolation goal.  

So, Portugal have a strong record in this fixture and that helps explain the 5/4 (implied probability 44%) despite the match being played in Denmark. It's 23/10 the home win (30.3%) and 9/4 (30.8%) the draw.  

Despite the fact Portugal have the better players, were good in the Nations League Group Stage and have that impressive record against the Danes, that's not a particularly generous price about them. You'd think that if it's a draw after 70 minutes or so they'll fancy their chances of doing the business at home without the need to force the issue in the first leg. So that puts us off, as well. Best leave this market alone.    

Both Teams to Score  

What's a better price, albeit a slightly shorter one, is that both teams score, which is 10/11, implied probability of 52%.   

BTTS has happened in five of Portugal's last six games (all Nations League Group Stage games), the odd one out being a somewhat laboured 0-0 effort in Scotland when they didn't need to win. Denmark's results only produced two BTTS matches out of six but that included it being a winner in two of their last three, drawing 2-2 in Switzerland and losing 1-2 at home to Spain.  

Going all the way back to a Euro 96 clash and there were goals at both ends in 8 out of the last 10 between them.   

For those who wish to push the boat out a bit more, a Portugal win with goals at both ends may see plenty of business at 18/5 and that's not a bad price.  

But 1-1, an 11/2 chance on the correct score market is a lively runner while the straight both teams to score option covers lots of bases, so that's the one I'm going with.  

Anytime Goalscorers  

Denmark should be good for a goal as discussed already but they're unlikely to get more than that so none of the anytime scorer prices make much appeal among their players.  

But it's not inconceivable that if things go their way, Portugal could score two or three. The price on Ronaldo (7/4) looks on the money and it's not worth looking at the likes of Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Jota or Neto until we know if they're starting.  

So, two worthy of interest are certain starters in Bruno Fernandes at 16/5 and marauding left-back Mendes, who is a huge price at 16/1. The latter is admittedly yet to score for Portugal in 33 appearances, but he's got three for the season at club level, including one at the weekend against Marseille. He really does love getting forward and will be expected to so I wouldn't e surprise if he doesn't find himself in a scoring position at least once in the game.   

As for Fernandes, he had a slow start under Ruben Amorim but has found his shooting boots of late with seven in his last seven and five in his last three after a midweek hat-trick at home to Real Sociedad and a goal at Leicester on Sunday.  

Admittedly, a few of his goals were penalties and one was a free kick, and he may not get so much of a chance to score a goal from one of those situations with Ronaldo around. But then again, that's factored into the price. It makes sense to split stakes between the two. 

Jamie Pacheco predominantly covers Cricket and European Football for us at Betfred Insights. You can check out his Football Betting Tips, along with those from the rest of the team, at our Football hub page...