Denmark vs Portugal: Selecao Aim for Third Straight Nations League Win
Denmark will host Portugal in the third matchday of Group D in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, October 2, with the two sides heading into the contest with contrasting momentum. Portugal have won their opening two matches and will be aiming to make it three victories in a row under Jorge Jesus.
The match will take place at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, where Denmark will be looking to use home advantage to halt Portugal’s strong start. The hosts suffered a defeat to Norway in their opening fixture but responded with a victory over Wales, while Portugal followed wins against Wales and Norway to establish themselves as one of the early pace-setters in the group.
Denmark’s record in the Nations League provides some encouragement. Across 26 matches in the competition, the Dynamite have recorded 13 victories, five draws and eight defeats, demonstrating that they have generally been competitive in the tournament.
Their record against Portugal, however, is considerably less impressive. From 18 previous meetings, Denmark have won just four times, drawn twice and lost on 12 occasions against the Euro 2016 champions, giving Portugal a significant historical advantage ahead of the latest encounter.
That dominance has also been evident in recent meetings. Portugal have won four of their last five clashes with Denmark, with their only defeat during that period coming in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final in March 2025, when Denmark recorded a 1-0 victory. Portugal responded strongly in the return fixture by winning 5-2.
The visitors therefore arrive in Copenhagen with considerable confidence, particularly after beginning the current Nations League campaign with consecutive victories. Jorge Jesus has quickly established positive momentum with Portugal, and his side will be looking to maintain that progress against a Danish team that could prove difficult to break down on home soil.
There is, however, one potential issue surrounding the Portuguese camp. Reports have suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo was unhappy with being left on the bench during the victory over Norway, although the situation has not appeared to disrupt Portugal’s overall form.
Portugal’s attacking quality remains a major threat, with Ronaldo expected to return to the starting lineup. Denmark, meanwhile, will need a disciplined defensive performance and greater efficiency in possession if they are to prevent the visitors from controlling the game.
The fixture could therefore become a battle between Denmark’s home advantage and Portugal’s current momentum. While the hosts have already shown they can recover from a difficult start, Portugal’s recent form and superior record in this fixture give them confidence heading into another important Group D encounter.
Head-to-Head: Denmark vs Portugal
March 24, 2025 – UEFA Nations League: Portugal 5-2 Denmark
March 21, 2025 – UEFA Nations League: Denmark 1-0 Portugal
October 9, 2015 – UEFA European Championship Qualifiers: Portugal 1-0 Denmark
October 15, 2014 – UEFA European Championship Qualifiers: Denmark 0-1 Portugal
June 13, 2012 – UEFA European Championship: Denmark 2-3 Portugal
Predicted Lineups
Denmark (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Kristensen, Andersen, Provstgaard, Maehle; Hjulmand, Hojbjerg; Isaksen, Damsgaard, Daramy; Hojlund.
Head Coach: Brian Riemer
Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Fernandes, Joao Neves; Felix, Ronaldo, Neto.
Head Coach: Jorge Jesus
Prediction
Portugal will enter the contest with the opportunity to strengthen their grip on Group D, while Denmark need another strong performance to keep pace with the leaders. The hosts can draw confidence from their home record and their previous victory over Portugal, but the visitors’ attacking depth and current momentum make them a difficult opponent to contain.
With both sides still fighting for position in a tightly contested group, every point carries significant weight. Portugal appear to have the stronger momentum heading into the clash, but Denmark are capable of making the contest far more competitive than the recent head-to-head record suggests.
Prediction: Denmark 1-2 Portugal.
