Portugal Faces Poland in UEFA Nations League: Renato Veiga Debuts as Ronaldo Takes on Lewandowski
In the third matchday of Group A1 of the 2024/2025 UEFA Nations League,
Portugal takes on Poland in Warsaw. The game is highlighted by the debut of
Renato Veiga and the much-anticipated duel between Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert
Lewandowski.
Held at the packed National Stadium in Warsaw, with over 58,000 fans in
attendance, the match promises to be an exciting contest.
Portugal enters the match with a perfect record, having won both of
their previous games. On the other hand, Poland, with one win and one loss,
aims to capitalize on their home advantage.
The Polish team hasn’t lost on home soil for over two years, boasting an
impressive 10-game unbeaten run, making this an extra challenge for Roberto
Martínez's squad.
The starting XI for Portugal includes young midfielder Renato Veiga, who
makes his debut, replacing João Palhinha. Manager Roberto Martínez explained
that the change is intended to increase creativity in midfield and offer more
attacking options.
Portugal’s lineup will
feature Diogo Costa, Diogo Dalot, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Rúben
Neves, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes; Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, and Cristiano
Ronaldo.
On the other side, Poland will play in a 3-5-2 formation, focusing on
the attacking prowess of Lewandowski and Swiderski. Their defensive trio of
Bednarek, Walukiewicz, and Dawidowicz will aim to hold off Portugal’s attacks,
while Piotr Zielinski will play a key role in midfield, supporting their
attack.
Historically, Portugal holds a slight edge over Poland, with five wins,
three draws, and three losses in previous encounters. The last time these two
sides met was in 2018, also in the Nations League, with the game ending in a
1-1 draw. André Silva scored for Portugal, while Milik netted for Poland.
This match isn’t just about tactical battles; it’s also a showdown
between two football legends: Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski. Both
strikers have been in excellent form, collectively scoring 23 goals this
season.
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Ronaldo, the ever-influential captain, will lead Portugal’s attack,
while Lewandowski, Poland’s key man, will look to find gaps in Portugal's
defense.
With Croatia defeating Scotland earlier today, Portugal must secure a
positive result to maintain their group lead. Croatia now shares six points
with Portugal, and a loss could complicate the Selecao’s path to the
quarterfinals.
Portuguese fans are confident and have shown their support from early
on, accompanying the team all the way to the stadium. Among them is Kasper, a
young Polish fan who traveled 300 kilometers to Warsaw with a cardboard cutout
of Cristiano Ronaldo, hoping to catch a glimpse of his idol, despite not
securing tickets to the match.
Kickoff is set for 19:45, and anticipation is high. Portugal aims to
keep their perfect record intact, while Poland looks to extend their home
unbeaten streak and surprise the visitors.
