Portugal vs Latvia Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Portugal’s path to Euro 2016 triumph was one of the most uninspiring cup runs in recent memory, with them failing to win any of their first five games of the tournament in normal time and requiring an extra time winner from a substitute against France in an otherwise goalless game. Either way their tactics proved effective in the end, but they have been making up for lost goals since then.

They followed Euro 2016 with a 5-0 hammering of Gibraltar in a friendly before losing 2-0 in Switzerland in the first of their World Cup qualifiers. They have bounced back in style though, hammering Andorra and Faroe Islands 6-0 each.

Captain and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo has netted five of those 12 goals, whilst young striker Andre Silva has scored four as well to make for an absolutely lethal striking duo. Typically, Ronaldo is a very short 2/7 to score anytime on Sunday, but there is a lot of value in backing Andre Silva to find the net again at 4/6.

This is especially true because Portugal have shown that they keep their foot firmly on the pedal even when the game is comfortably won. Four of their last 12 games in all competitions have seen them win by at least five goals, and that will be a huge worry to Latvia.

The visitors kicked their World Cup qualifying campaign off with a slim victory over whipping boys Andorra, but since then they have lost 2-0 to both Faroe Islands and Hungary.

Portugal have shown recently that they are in no mood to take it easy on teams. Winning three of their last four matches by five or more goals is an excellent achievement no matter who your opponents are, and in all honesty Latvia are no better than the Faroe Islands side who lost 6-0 to them.

Considering this refusal to take it easy, I am expecting a landslide victory for the hosts. The odds difference between a Portugal -3 Handicap Win and a -4 Handicap win are huge, so I think the best value bet is to be found in backing a Portugal -4 Handicap Win at 3/1 along with a 6-0 correct score prediction at 14/1.