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UEFA Nations League · League A, Matchday 6

Wales vs Portugal: Match Preview & Stats

Wales crest Wales
vs
Portugal crest Portugal
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff (Caerdydd)

Our picks

Model predictions are published 48 hours before kick-off

To take in the latest form and rest days, the predictions for this match come out on . (If either team plays another match in between, they come out once that match is over.)

See today's ready predictions →

Match facts

Competition
UEFA Nations League, League A, Matchday 6
Kick-off
Venue
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Since last match
Wales: 3 days (UEFA Nations League) · Norway Portugal: 3 days (UEFA Nations League) · Denmark
Next match
Wales: not scheduled yet Portugal: not scheduled yet

Last starting XI

Wales 4-2-3-1

  1. 12 Ward
  2. 3 Williams
  3. 6 Cabango
  4. 4 Davies
  5. 15 Dasilva
  6. 5 Ampadu
  7. 17 James
  8. 11 Johnson
  9. 10 Cullen
  10. 19 Thomas
  11. 9 Koumas

Coach: Craig Bellamy vs Denmark, 0-1 · UEFA Nations League · 4 Oct

Portugal 4-1-3-2

  1. 1 Costa
  2. 20 Cancelo
  3. 3 Dias
  4. 13 Veiga
  5. 19 Mendes
  6. 6 Palhinha
  7. 14 Conceição
  8. 23 Vítinha
  9. 8 Fernandes
  10. 11 Félix
  11. 9 Ramos

Coach: Jorge Jesus vs Norway, 2-1 · UEFA Nations League · 4 Oct

Our predicted line-ups come with our picks, 48 hours before kick-off. Until then: each club's last starting XI.

Injuries and suspensions

Wales

No absences reported.

Portugal

  • FW Francisco ConceiçãoSuspended · Mid November 2026
  • DF Nuno TavaresInjured · Early December 2026
  • FW Rafael LeãoInjured · Late November 2026

Players listed as injured, suspended or away with their national team, with their expected return.

Missing Players Impact

Wales

Low impact

Full squad available — no listed absences

Portugal

Moderate impact
Missing attack share 10.0%
Missing minutes share 6.0%
3 players out
Key absences:
  • FW Francisco Conceição 5% attack · 3% mins
  • FW Rafael Leão 5% attack · 3% mins

Share of team playing time and attacking output over the last 9 matches accounted for by unavailable players.

Tactical Profile & Play Quality (0–100)

Wales Portugal
Box & Territory Pressure 47 55
Set-Piece & Corner Threat 42 52
Finishing Efficiency 73 64
Defensive & Goalkeeper Wall 57 78
Underlying Play Power 59 64
Wales Results above play quality (running hot)
Portugal Results above play quality (running hot)

OptimaGoal 0–100 performance indices built from the last 9 matches before kick-off.

Game-State Scenarios & Goal Timing

Wales

When scoring first 71% won · 86% unbeaten (7 matches)
When conceding first 43% points rescued · 29% won (7 matches)
1st Half: 39% 2nd Half: 61%
First 15': 7% Last 15' (76-90'): 21%

Portugal

When scoring first 86% won · 100% unbeaten (7 matches)
When conceding first 67% points rescued · 50% won (6 matches)
1st Half: 53% 2nd Half: 47%
First 15': 12% Last 15' (76-90'): 25%

Reaction to scoring or conceding first and goal distribution across the last 15 matches.

Key Attacking Threats

Wales

  1. 1. FW Daniel James 3G · 1A
    Team attack 16.0% Team shots 14.0%
  2. 2. FW Harry Wilson 3G · 1A
    Team attack 13.0% Team shots 11.0%
  3. 3. FW Brennan Johnson 1G · 1A
    Team attack 10.0% Team shots 8.0%

Portugal

  1. 1. FW Cristiano Ronaldo 3G · 0A
    Team attack 13.0% Team shots 18.0%
  2. 2. MF Bruno Fernandes 0G · 3A
    Team attack 12.0% Team shots 10.0%
  3. 3. FW Gonçalo Ramos 4G · 1A
    Team attack 11.0% Team shots 10.0%

Top available players by share of team attacking production and shot volume over the last 10 matches.

Wales Portugal
Over 1.5 goals 7/10 7/10
Over 2.5 goals 3/10 6/10
Over 3.5 goals 1/10 2/10
Both teams scored 6/10 6/10
Clean sheet 1/10 3/10
Failed to score 3/10 2/10
Goals per match (scored / conceded) 1.4 / 1.1 1.9 / 0.8

Last 10 matches, all competitions, results after 90 minutes.

Form guide

Wales

  • L 0-1 vs Denmark (H) UEFA Nations League · 4 Oct
  • W 2-1 vs Norway (H) UEFA Nations League · 1 Oct
  • L 0-2 at Denmark (A) UEFA Nations League · 27 Sep
  • L 0-1 at Portugal (A) UEFA Nations League · 24 Sep
  • L 1-2 at Romania (A) Friendlies · 6 Jun

Portugal

  • W 2-1 vs Norway (H) UEFA Nations League · 4 Oct
  • W 4-2 at Denmark (A) UEFA Nations League · 1 Oct
  • W 2-1 at Norway (A) UEFA Nations League · 27 Sep
  • W 1-0 vs Wales (H) UEFA Nations League · 24 Sep
  • L 0-1 vs Spain (N) World Cup · 6 Jul

Last five competitive matches before kick-off, all competitions, results after 90 minutes.

When the goals come

ScoredConceded

Wales

Portugal

Goals in each 15-minute period, UEFA Nations League this season. Stoppage time counts with its half.

Top scorers

Wales

Player G A
Daniel James 1 0
Neco Williams 1 0

Portugal

Player G A
Gonçalo Ramos 3 1
Joao Félix 3 1
João Cancelo 2 0
Vítinha 1 0

Goals and assists in the UEFA Nations League this season.

Corners and yellow cards

Wales Portugal
  • 3.0 Corners won 6.2
  • 4.5 Corners conceded 4.0
  • 2.2 Yellow cards 2.2
  • 0.8 Opponents' yellow cards 1.2

Per match in the UEFA Nations League this season. Average per club and match: 4.5 corners, 1.8 yellow cards.

Attack and defence ratings

WalesPortugal
Attack 55 91
Defence 68 96

0 to 100 against this season's UEFA Nations League clubs (100 = best). The rating is our model's long-run strength before this match: it uses the last three years and counts recent matches most, so a few results do not move it at once. Under each rating: this season's actual goals per match.

1922Elo #21 Elo rating 2180Elo #4

Head-to-head

0Wales wins
0draws
2Portugal wins

2 meetings since 2010, results after 90 minutes.

  • 24 Sep 2026 · UEFA Nations League Portugal 1-0 Wales
  • 6 Jul 2016 · EURO Portugal 2-0 Wales

Table

League A - Group 4

#Team PWDLGoalsGDPts
1 Portugal 4 400 9:4 +5 12
2 Denmark 4 202 7:7 0 6
3 Norway 4 103 6:8 -2 3
4 Wales 4 103 2:5 -3 3

Our table from the results; the two clubs of this match are highlighted. Full table

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Times are UTC.