PORTUGAL take on Azerbaijan in Baku as they look to go top of World Cup qualifying Group A.
Cristiano Ronaldo inspired his nation to a 2-1 win over Ireland last time out, but is suspended for today’s clash.
- TV channel/live stream: Sky Sports Main Event/NOW TV
- Portugal XI: Rui Patricio, Guerreiro, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Cancelo, Palhinha, Moutinho, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Jota, Andre Silva.
Follow ALL the latest with our live blog below…
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AZERBAIJAN 0-0 PORTUGAL
6 Portugal protest for a penalty as Jota’s shot hit the arm of an Azerbaijani defender.
However, the referee deems the visitors’ attack started from an offside position
AZERBAIJAN 0-0 PORTUGAL
5 Portugal are dominating possession in the opening few minutes, as expected.
We are seeing some brilliant chemistry between the midfield and attack
AZERBAIJAN 0-0 PORTUGAL
2 And another quick reminder:
Azerbaijan manager Giovanni de Biasi appears to have opted for a 3-4-3 formation against Portugal.
Shakhrudin Magomedaliyev starts in goal with Elvin Badalov, Hojjat Hahgverdi and Azer Salahli in defence.
Abbas Huseynov plays at right wing-back with Tamkin Khalilzade on the other side, while Emin Makhmudov and captain Gara Garayev team up in midfield.
Namik Alaskarov, Filip Ozobic and Mahir Emreli lead the attack
AZERBAIJAN 0-0 PORTUGAL
1 Just a small reminder:
Portugal manager Fernando Santos appears to have opted for a 4-3-3 formation against Azerbaijan.
Rui Patricio starts in goal with Joao Cancelo at right-back and Raphael Guerreiro at left-back, while Pepe and Ruben Dias team up at centre-back.
Captain Joao Moutinho links up with Joao Pahlinha and Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
Diogo Jota, Bernardo Silva and Andre Silva, who replaces the absent Cristiano Ronaldo, lead the attack
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND OFF WE GO IN BAKU!!!!!!
HERE COME THE TEAMS!!!
The Baku Olympic Stadium is set to host the World Cup qualifier between Azerbaijan and Portugal.
The hosts’ captain Gara Garayev leads his team out on the pitch whereas Joao Moutinho dons his country’s armband.
Reminding you that Moutinho is filling in for the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo.
Not long to go now…
GETTY IMAGES IN DEBT
Azerbaijan manager Giovanni de Biasi was in a joyful mood during the pre-match press conference as he claimed there is still hope of getting a result against Portugal, considering they are missing Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, De Biasi refuses to underestimate today’s opponents as they are still filled with quality.
The Italian manager, though, claimed Portugal boss Fernando Santos owes him a bottle of fine wine because it was thanks to him that he became the national coach.
The 65-year-old is talking about the time when he beat former boss Paulo Bento while he was in charge of Albania in 2014.
De Biasi said: “Cristiano Ronaldo is an excellent player, but Portugal has players in Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Wolverhampton, Paris Saint-Germain, [Borussia] Dortmund, Benfica, Porto, Sporting [Lisbon]…
“Hope is always the last to die. In life never say never.
“I would like to remind you that Fernando Santos still owes me a bottle of Porto wine, because he became the coach [of Portugal] thanks to me and then he became European champion”
GETTY IMAGES CENTR-RUI-RION
Roma star Rui Patricio is close to a very unique record in his international career.
Patricio starts between the sticks for Portugal today in their World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan.
The star goalkeeper will pick up his 99th cap for his national team once the whistle blows.
That, of course, brings the ex-Wolves star only one game away from 100 appearances for Portugal
GETTY IMAGES RON A ROLL
As mentioned earlier, Portugal superstar Ctristiano Ronaldo will play no part in today’s encounter against Azerbaijan.
Ronaldo has gone to England to train with his new club Manchester United as he got suspended last week during the match against the Republic of Ireland when he picked up a yellow card.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was booked after removing his shirt while celebrating his second goal in his team’s 2-1 win.
The star forward’s brace made him the all-time highest goalscorer in men’s international football as he passed Iran’s Ali Daei.
The 36-year-old now counts 111 goals in 180 caps across all competitions
GETTY IMAGES
AZERBAIJAN FORMATION
Azerbaijan manager Giovanni de Biasi appears to have opted for a 3-4-3 formation against Portugal.
Shakhrudin Magomedaliyev starts in goal with Elvin Badalov, Hojjat Hahgverdi and Azer Salahli in defence.
Abbas Huseynov plays at right wing-back with Tamkin Khalilzade on the other side, while Emin Makhmudov and captain Gara Garayev team up in midfield.
Namik Alaskarov, Filip Ozobic and Mahir Emreli lead the attack
PORTUGAL FORMATION
Portugal manager Fernando Santos appears to have opted for a 4-3-3 formation against Azerbaijan.
Rui Patricio starts in goal with Joao Cancelo at right-back and Raphael Guerreiro at left-back, while Pepe and Ruben Dias team up at centre-back.
Captain Joao Moutinho links up with Joao Pahlinha and Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
Diogo Jota, Bernardo Silva and Andre Silva, who replaces the absent Cristiano Ronaldo, lead the attack
AZERBAIJAN SUBS
12 Dzhenetov, 23 Bayramov, 5 Mustafazade, 6 Mustafayev, 9 Ghorbani, 11 Sheydaev, 15 Tashgin, 16 Nuriiev, 17 Bayramov, 18 Aliyev, 21 İbrahimli, 22 Sadikhov
PORTUGAL SUBS
12 Lopes, 22 Costa, 2 Semedo, 7 Trincao, 13 Danilo, 14 Duarte, 15 R. Silva, 16 Otavio, 17 Guedes, 18 Neves, 19 Mendes, 23 Mario
AZERBAIJAN XI
1 Magomedaliyev; 14 Badalov, 4 Hahgverdi, 3 Salahli; 13 Huseynov, 8 Makhmudov, 2 Garayev, 19 Khalilzade; 7 Alaskarov, 10 Emreli, 20 Ozobic
PORTUGAL XI
1 Patricio; 20 Cancelo, 3 Pepe, 4 Dias, 5 Guerreiro; 8 Moutinho, 6 Pahlinha, 11 Fernandes; 21 Jota, 10 B. Silva, 9 A. Silva
THE TEAM SHEETS ARE IN!!!
AZERBAIJAN STATS
Azerbaijan have been struggling in Group A during the World Cup qualifying phase.
The minnows nation is at the bottom of the table with only one point as they drew with Ireland away on Saturday.
Gianni De Biasi’s side has since lost three out of four matches in the qualifying round.
One of them was against Portugal in the first leg away when they lost 1-0 following Maksim Medvedev’s own goal
GETTY IMAGES PORTUGAL STATS
Portugal lost their European crown during the summer’s Euro 2020 tournament, which saw them getting eliminated in the Round of 16.
Fernando Santos’ men finished third in the ‘group of death’ under France and Germany, as they only managed to beat Hungary, and were then knocked out by Belgium.
However, the Portuguese national team is setting up a strong foundation for a quick qualification to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as they are joint top of Group A, which also includes Serbia, Luxembourg, Republic of Ireland and today’s opponents Azerbaijan, thanks to an undefeated run.
Portugal have won three of their first four matches and share the top spot with the Serbians as they have both amassed 10 points
GETTY IMAGES HEAD TO HEAD
Portugal and Azerbaijan’s first ever encounter took place way back in 1999 during a Euro 2000 qualifier that the former won comfortbly with a score of 7-0 at home.
Since then, the two nations have faced off a total of seven times with the Portuguese national team counting a vast majority of six wins.
Azerbaijan, on the other hand, have never beaten tonight’s opponents as their best ever result was a 1-1 draw back in 1999.
That was also the only time they scored against Portugal as they conceded a total of 18 goals in seven matches
GETTY IMAGES GOOD AFTERNOON FROM BAKU
Welcome to our live coverage of the 2022 World Cup qualifier between Azerbaijan and Portugal at the Baku National Stadium.
Fernando Santos’ men are looking to seal qualification to the tournament’s finals in Qatar as soon as possible following a rather hapless Euro 2020 campaign.
Santos, though, will be without record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who made history last week against the Republic of Ireland by becoming the highest scorer in men’s international football when he surpassed Iran’s Ali Daei.
Ronaldo was shown a yellow card for removing his shirt while celebrating his second goal that gave the Portuguese national team the win and is thus suspended.
The Manchester United star signing’s absence could see Andre Silva hold his place up top after netting in the friendly win over Qatar.
Roma star Rui Patricio is set to be recalled between the sticks and pick up a record cap for his national team
Azerbaijan manager Gianni De Biasi, on the other hand, will be without Anton Kryvotsiuk, who also picked up his second booking, so Azar Salahly could take his place at left-back.
Other than that, the hosts have no fresh concerns heading to this difficult match against the former European champions
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
