Denmark vs Portugal Prediction, Predicted Lineups & Team News | UEFA Nations League

Denmark host Portugal at Parken on Thursday with Jorge Jesus' side perfect through two UEFA Nations League matches and Denmark coming off a win over Wales. Our Denmark vs Portugal prediction is a 2-2 draw, with Portugal carrying the deeper squad but Denmark still dangerous at home despite a mounting injury list.

Cristiano Ronaldo was an unused substitute in Sunday's 2-1 win over Norway, with Goncalo Ramos starting and scoring the winner. The captain left Portugal's training camp due to recent issues with the coach and the federation and said on his instagram that he will explain the reasons later. "Following the national team coach's press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have made the decision to leave the national team camp. In due course, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons behind my departure from the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself. Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates, without exception."

When & Where to Watch (USA)

Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8:45 PM CEST / 2:45 PM ET / 11:45 AM PT

Venue: Parken, Copenhagen (38,190)

• English: FOX Sports (channel to be confirmed), Fubo
• Spanish: ViX

Denmark vs Portugal Lineups & Injury News

Denmark vs Portugal Confirmed Lineups

Denmark confirmed starting XI (4-2-3-1): Mads Hermansen; Rasmus Kristensen, Joachim Andersen, Oliver Provstgaard, Joakim Maehle; Morten Hjulmand, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg; Adam Daghim, Mikkel Damsgaard, Mohammed Daramy; Rasmus Hojlund

Portugal confirmed starting XI (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes; Pedro Neto, Goncalo Ramos, Rafael Leao

For the latest availability across Europe, see RotoWire's soccer injury report.

Denmark Team News & Injuries

Riemer's assessment of his own treatment room was blunt. "I have never experienced anything like it," he said this week, with somewhere between seven and eight players unavailable.

The newest one hurts most. Patrick Dorgu started both matches, came off after half an hour against Wales holding the back of his thigh and has been sent back to his club. Riemer on Monday: "He has an injury and has to go home. A new one has to be called in." He added that Dorgu won't be ready next week either, and that further examinations will determine the length. No replacement had been named as of Monday.

Albert Gronbaek is out with a torn muscle fibre. Andreas Christensen, Alexander Bah and Kasper Dolberg are all injured too. Mohamed Daramy is the obvious man for Dorgu's slot on the left, since he's the one who replaced him against Wales.

There is good news at the top of the pitch. Gustav Isaksen scored the second against Wales and is now joint-top scorer for Denmark with seven goals since his debut in March 2024, six of them at Parken. Rasmus Hojlund scored from a corner in Oslo. Denmark have found the net four times in two matches, which is more than Portugal have.

Portugal Team News & Injuries

Bruno Fernandes should be back. He sat out the Norway game as a precaution, having played through a knock picked up at Manchester United, and Jesus explained it plainly: "He's coming off an injury at United, and he told me he's been playing with that pain for the last three games, which is hindering him. I prefer not to risk it in this game." Jesus named Thursday as the target for his return and said he was hopeful, which is short of a guarantee.

Beyond that Portugal are in good order. There were no other absentees going into Oslo, and Nuno Mendes started despite carrying some muscle fatigue from the Wales match.

Goncalo Ramos came into the XI in Ronaldo's place, scored the winner for his 12th international goal, and Portugal looked entirely comfortable. He will likely start again alongside Joao Felix who has scored in both matches. Diogo Costa was the man of the match in Oslo. There is no obvious seam to prise open.

One thing worth watching: six Portugal players picked up yellow cards in Oslo, and in this competition two bookings means a ban. Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Joao Palhinha, Vitinha, Renato Veiga and Bernardo Silva are all one caution from missing a match.

Denmark vs Portugal Head-to-Head Record

Eighteen meetings in total, and Portugal lead it 12-4 with two draws. Four of the last six went Portugal's way, and Denmark won the other two.

One of those two is the one that matters on Thursday. The last time these sides met in Copenhagen, in March 2025, Denmark won 1-0. Portugal took the tie in Lisbon three days later, 5-2 after extra time, but the home leg went Denmark's way and it's the most recent evidence of what Parken is like when it's full and Denmark are organised.

Denmark vs Portugal Tactical Analysis

Portugal have conceded once in two matches and it came from a scramble in the box after a free-kick. They set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Palhinha and Joao Neves screening, they're comfortable without the ball, and both wins were built on controlling the middle third rather than overwhelming anyone. Three goals scored in two games is not a rampage. It's a team that takes the chances it makes and defends the rest.

Denmark's shape is the same on paper and different in practice, because Riemer's side have been the more open of the two. They scored twice in Oslo and lost, then kept a clean sheet against a Wales team that has now failed to score in either match. Their best moments come from Damsgaard on the ball and Hojlund running the channels, and their problem is that the injuries have stripped out the depth behind that.

The tactical question is whether Portugal's midfield two can be got at. Norway found space between the lines in the second half in Oslo, which is how Haaland scored, and Denmark have the players to look for the same pockets. Against that, Portugal can bring Leao, Trincao, Vitinha and Bernardo Silva off the bench, and Denmark's bench is where the injury list bites hardest.

Denmark vs Portugal Key Matchups

Rasmus Hojlund vs Ruben Dias and Renato Veiga

Hojlund has scored once and led the line in both games. Dias and Veiga have conceded once between them. The Dane's best route is the channel rather than the middle, because Portugal's pair are strong and neither is quick enough to be comfortable turning.

Mikkel Damsgaard vs Joao Palhinha and Joao Neves

This is the game. If Damsgaard gets the ball facing forward between Portugal's midfield and defence, Denmark can play. If Palhinha and Neves screen it the way they did for an hour in Oslo, Denmark will be crossing from wide areas into two centre-backs who enjoy that.

Gustav Tang Isaksen vs Nuno Mendes

Isaksen has six of his seven international goals at this ground and won the Wales game. Mendes is one of the better attacking full-backs in Europe, which cuts both ways, because he'll leave space behind him.

Denmark vs Portugal Odds

Nobody is a real favourite here, which is unusual for a side with a perfect record visiting one on three points.

Portugal are barely odds-against to win, and the draw we're calling pays up to +270.

Odds from OddsJam. For more markets, see RotoWire's soccer betting page and the best sportsbook promos.

Denmark vs Portugal Prediction

Portugal have been the more settled side through the opening two matches, conceding only once and showing enough depth to win in Oslo without using Cristiano Ronaldo. Their midfield structure has been difficult to play through, and Jesus has several high-level attacking options available if the game needs changing.

Denmark still have enough to make this uncomfortable at Parken. Hojlund gives them a direct threat through the middle, Damsgaard can find space between the lines and Isaksen has been especially productive at home.

The difference is that Denmark's injuries have reduced their margin for error, particularly off the bench, while Portugal can change the shape and tempo without weakening the side. Even so, Denmark's home advantage and attacking quality should be enough to keep this level.

Score Prediction: Denmark 2-2 Portugal

Denmark and Portugal Upcoming Fixtures

Denmark travel to Wales on Oct. 4, while Portugal host Norway the same day, before the two meet again in Portugal on Nov. 14.

For squad news and injury updates through the international window, see RotoWire's soccer news feed and injury report.