Belgium v Portugal betting tips: Seville showdown for big guns

Preview and odds for the round-of-16 match

One of the top teams will be eliminated from Euro 2020 in Sunday night’s showdown as we pick out some Belgium v Portugal betting tips for what is arguably the pick of the last-16 matches.

Belgium are ranked as the best team in the world but face their first serious test of the tournament when they meet the defending champions.

Sunday’s match, which is live on ITV and kicks off at 8pm, is being held at La Cartuja Stadium in the Spanish city of Seville.

Belgium v Portugal match odds

Belgium lived up to their billing as one of the tournament favourites as they cruised through Group B without dropping a point.

A golden generation are looking to improve on a third-placed finish at the 2018 World Cup and began their tournament with a 3-0 victory over Russia.

They had to come from behind to beat Denmark 2-1 before a 2-0 win against Finland set them up nicely for the harder tests to come.

Roberto Martinez’s men are in the toughest side of the draw, though, which explains why they have drifted to 8/1 in the Euro 2020 winner odds, but they head into Sunday’s game as the 3/4 favourites to get through and 6/4 to win in 90 minutes.

Portugal had to settle for third place in the ‘group of death’ and have paid the price by having to face Belgium while group winners France take on Switzerland.

But they will fancy their chances having held France to a 2-2 draw in the final group game on Wednesday when Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a brace.

They have certainly produced plenty of entertainment, with their three group matches featuring 13 goals, and over 2.5 goals can be backed at 11/10 here.

Portugal are 21/20 to reach the quarter-finals and 2/1 for victory in normal time, with the match 9/4 to be drawn after 90 minutes.

Going to extra time in the Spanish heat would be far from ideal for Portugal given they have 48 hours less to prepare for the game, with Belgium having played their final group game on Monday.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said after the France game: “Resting is very important. We will have to mitigate this 48-hour difference.

“We want to recuperate the players and have them fresh for the next match. I thought for what they played, they have managed to recharge their mental batteries and right now we have to eliminate the fatigue.

“We are going to face very high temperatures but this is not a handicap for us. We are going to study our opponent.

“We already know them but we will see what changed and we will prepare this match with our idea to progress.”

Belgium are 10/1 to win the match in extra time, compared to 12/1 for Portugal, while a Belgium win after a drawn first half is 9/2.

Belgium v Portugal head-to-head

The last meeting between these teams was three years ago in a warm-up match ahead of the 2018 World Cup but a drab affair in Brussels finished goalless.

Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen went closest to a breakthrough but his shot was tipped over by Beto.

Portugal had won the three previous meetings, including doing the double in qualifying for the 2008 European Championship with a 4-0 victory at home followed by a 2-1 win in the return game.

Previous XI

Belgium: Courtois, Vermaelen, Boyata, Denayer, Witsel, De Bruyne, E Hazard, Chadli, Lukaku, Trossard, Doku.

Portugal: Patricio, Semedo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro, Moutinho, B Silva, Pereira, Sanches, Jota, Ronaldo.

Key battles

Bruno Fernandes was expected to be the main man in midfield for Portugal but instead it is former Swansea flop Renato Sanches who is winning all the plaudits.

The Lille man’s energy will be needed to protect the defence and limit the impact of Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who has the ability to win any match almost single-handedly.

Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku were among the most popular Euro 2020 top goalscorer tips and this game could prove decisive in that battle.

Ronaldo was the top scorer in the group stage with five goals and is 5/4 to add to his tally while he can be backed in a #YourCall special at 20/1 to score and provide an assist.

Lukaku is 5/2 to score in a Belgium win and 7/2 to open the scoring.

View the latest Euro 2020 odds

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication