Portugal vs. North Macedonia: Preview and betting tips

Portugal will face a barrage of 2022 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday, welcoming North Macedonia at home. The favourite is clear, but let’s not forget who the Macedonians knocked out in the semi-finals of the knockout phase.

Portugal lost its direct qualification to the championship in the last round of qualification. It scored in injury time in Serbia, lost and went to the barrage. On Thursday, they beat the Turks 3-1 at home and advanced to the play-off final.

Macedonia’s path is different, the football midget only secured its participation in the barrage in the last match of the group stage of qualification. Subsequently, it went into the semi-finals as a total underdog, yet knocked out Italy 1: 0 with a goal from a set-up.

Cristiano Ronaldo is still in great form at the age of thirty-seven, scoring eighteen goals and assisting three times in Manchester United’s jersey in all competitions. Liverpool’s Diogo Jota is even better (19+3).

Macedonia is led by Eljif Elmas, who has scored six goals and assisted six times for Napoli. Enis Bardhi in the jersey of Spanish Levante was at five goals (3+2), Arijan Ademi makes captain in Dinamo Zagreb.

Portugal’s offense is running like clockwork, scoring three or more goals in five of their last seven games.

Macedonia, on the other hand, boasts a well-functioning defence, scoring more than once in only one of their last six games.

Given the overall strength of Portugal’s squad and the Ronaldo factor, I think the Portuguese will win with a clean sheet.