Scotland have their first level of their 2024-25 Nations League marketing campaign, having held Portugal to a 0-0 draw at Hampden Park.
The match itself was not a fantastic spectacle with restricted possibilities both means, as Cristiano Ronaldo’s two hundredth begin for Portugal finally resulted in disappointment.
It was a efficiency of grit over model for Steve Clarke’s facet, although, who managed simply three photographs in the course of the match.
Portugal got here closest to discovering the web, with Craig Gordon getting down expertly to cease Bruno Fernandes slotting residence from a Rafael Leao cutback within the 87th minute.
The draw leaves Scotland backside of Nations League Group A1, though their first level means the hole to third-placed Poland stays at three factors forward of the 2 assembly within the November worldwide break.
Portugal, in the meantime, are high of the standings on 10 factors and know a victory from their remaining two video games will seal their development to the quarter-finals, after sustaining their three-point buffer to second-placed Croatia following their 3-3 draw with Poland.
FULL TIME: Scotland 0-0 Portugal.
A resilient efficiency from each Scotland participant on the park earns us a degree at Hampden Park this night.#SCOPOR pic.twitter.com/mJ2uH9fNjx
— Scotland Nationwide Workforce (@ScotlandNT) October 15, 2024
Knowledge Debrief: Scotland smash Ronaldo’s landmark look
Ronaldo made his two hundredth begin for Portugal tonight, 21 years and 4 days after making his first begin for the Selecao towards Albania in October 2003.
After scoring in every of Roberto Martinez’s first 12 aggressive matches in control of Portugal, the Selecao have since drawn a clean in 4 of their final seven matches beneath the Spaniard.
Portugal tried 715 passes tonight – their highest quantity on this Nations League marketing campaign, with their 14 makes an attempt the bottom they’ve managed within the competitors this time period, ending the competition with an anticipated targets (xG) complete of 1.52.
Scotland, in the meantime, are actually winless of their final 10 aggressive matches (D4 L6), their longest-ever run with out a aggressive victory, although they managed to maintain a clear sheet towards a workforce above them within the FIFA rankings for the primary time since a 2-0 win over Spain in 2023.