Denmark vs Portugal Bet Builder Tips, Preview

Whilst Portugal are fairly made out to be the big favourites heading into this tie, they are unlikely to keep the Danes quiet for the full 90 minutes in front of what should be a raucous crowd at Parken in Copenhagen. The Danes frequently punch above their weight and will be hopeful of snatching an unexpected first leg win.

Portugal have allowed 12 or more shots in 4 of their 6 Nations League games so far this season, with both of the two games in which they did not coming against a Scotland side who lack any kind of attacking threat. We expect Denmark to notch a similar tally here, which makes Hjulmand to have a shot at 1.80 a very attractive prospect.

The midfielder will be remembered by England fans for his long range strike against the Three Lions at Euro 2024, and has now had a shot in 6 of his last 7 competitive starts for his national side, including both of their group stage clashes with European champions Spain. Averaging 1.19 shots per 90 in his last 7 starts for Denmark, the Sporting Lisbon man has every chance of cashing this bet.

Cristiano Ronaldo is enjoying life in the Saudi league, bagging at least one shot on target in 21 of his 23 starts for the club this season. His record is even better at international level, where Ronaldo had a shot on target in all 5 Nations League group stage games, with multiple shots on target in 2 of those 5.

In fact, he last failed to have a shot on target in a competitive international game in June 2023, having done so in 16 straight games since blanking in a 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The 40-year-old has taken at least 3 shots in all of his 5 Nations League appearances, including 6 shots in just 45 minutes off the bench against Scotland. He also scored in 4 of these 5 games.

He may not be what he was once, but he is still a deadly presence in and around the goal. Despite the relatively short odds, this is, for my money, by far the best value bet available for this tie.

Rafael Leao is not one of those forwards who shies away from the challenge, with the winger frequently getting involved in duels for club and country. More often the victim of a foul, the AC Milan winger still commits plenty of his own fouls, especially in the Nations League where he has averaged 1.75 fouls per 90 so far this campaign.

Leao has featured in all 6 of Portugal’s matches in this competition, fouling in 5. He has fouled in 5 straight appearances for the national team this season, as well as fouling at least once in all 4 of his starts in which he played over 45 minutes. He also fouled in 3 of his 4 starts at Euro 2024 last summer.

He will be up against Rasmus Kristiansen, but also having to press Joachim Andersen at centre-back, with Ronaldo unlikely to lead the press from the front. Andersen wins 1.33 fouls per 90 in this competition, so we could easily see Leao commit his foul on the Fulham man.

Our final selection in this bet builder is Joao Neves to commit a foul. The PSG man is only just beginning to force his way into the starting XI for the national side, but the limited data we do have for him on the international stage is promising.

Neves has made 3 competitive starts for Portugal, one in Euro 2024, against Georgia, where he committed a foul, and two in this Nations League campaign, where he again fouled in both games. He has averaged 1.01 fouls per 90 in all competitions for PSG so far this season, along with 0.87 fouls per 90 for Portugal in the Nations League.

The 20-year-old midfielder will be up against a Danish midfield containing Christian Norgaard and Morten Hjulmand. Norgaard has won 1.03 fouls per 90 for Brentford in the Premier League this season (having not yet featured for Denmark in the Nations League). Meanwhile, Hjulmand has won 3.02 fouls per 90 in the Nations League, including multiple fouls in 4 of his 5 appearances, as well as winning 3 fouls in 31 minutes off the bench against Serbia.