Saturday's Nations League predictions: Portugal out to claim key win

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's matches in the Uefa Nations League.

Best bets

Norway to beat Slovenia
5pm, Premier Sports 2
1pt 10-11 general

Portugal to beat Czech Republic
7.45pm, Premier Extra
1pt 4-5 Betfred

Preview

Norway will not be heading to Qatar for this winter's World Cup but they have at least been giving supporters something to shout about in the Nations League.

After four matches, the Norwegians are top of Group B4 in the Nations League, winning three of those games and drawing the other with Slovenia in June.

Slovenia dug deep with a backs-to-the-wall performance in that goalless stalemate in Oslo but they may not have such luck when the teams meet again in Ljubljana.

Slovenia were fortunate in the reverse fixture and have picked up two draws and two defeats in a miserable campaign, whereas Norway could be on the cusp of promotion to League A and have plenty of incentive going into the game.

Since the last international break Norway's main man Erling Haaland has gone from strength to strength, making an electrifying start to life in the Premier League with Manchester City.

Haaland has already bagged 11 goals in seven Premier League fixtures this season and can bully Slovenia's defence, while midfield maestro Martin Odegaard has played a pivotal part in Arsenal's strong start to the season and is expected to feature after recovering from a calf concern.

Norway are far superior going forwards and can claim a win.

Pressure has been mounting on Portugal head coach Fernando Santos, who has been criticised for not getting the best out of a golden generation of players, but there cannot be too many complaints about the team's Nations League campaign.

In Group A2, Portugal held Spain to a draw before comfortable wins over Switzerland and Czech Republic in their first three games.

In June, they slipped to a 1-0 loss against Switzerland but that came at a time when most of the big nations underperformed and fatigue played a part at the end of the club campaigns.

With the World Cup just on the horizon, though, the Portuguese cannot afford another setback and their superior quality in midfield and attack, which features Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota, Joao Felix and the in-form Rafael Leao, should give them the edge against the Czech Republic on Saturday.

The Czechs will not feature at this year's World Cup and have taken only one point from their last three games in the Nations League, drawing blanks in each of their last two.

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