Portugal vs Colombia: World Cup preview, predictions and bet builder tips

Our prediction: Portugal 2-1 Colombia

Portugal

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Costa / Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes / Vitinha, Neves / Neto, Fernandes, Leao / Ronaldo

Colombia

Our predicted XI (4-3-3): Vargas / Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica / Puerta, Lerma, Arias / Rodriguez, Suarez, Diaz

The final matchday in Group K sees a winner-takes-all clash between Portugal and Colombia to determine who tops the group and secures a more favourable draw through the knockout stages. Colombia are in the driving seat having won both of their games against Uzbekistan and DR Congo, so Portugal have to beat them in order to win Group K.

After an underwhelming 1-1 draw in their opener against DR Congo, Portugal made light of work Uzbekistan on their way to a 5-0 victory. That was a much needed morale booster for Roberto Martinez's side and they'll be confident of taking full advantage.

Portugal are unbeaten in their last seven games and the difference could be in midfield, where PSG's Champions League-winning duo of Vitinha and Joao Neves dictate with Bruno Fernandes just in front. Colombia are a well-drilled outfit with dashes of quality in Luis Diaz and Daniel Munoz, but with the European heavyweights knowing they need a win to top Group K, we think Portugal will just about have too much quality. We're predicting a 2-1 win for Portugal against Colombia.

To go with our 2-1 prediction, we're picking both teams to score in our Portugal vs Colombia bet builder. Colombia have scored in each of their last eight games, while Portugal have only kept three clean sheets in their previous nine. With the likes of Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafa Leao, Portugal have an attack up there with the best in the competition. Luis Diaz was one of the best forwards in Europe for Bayern Munich last season, and Crystal Palace wing back Daniel Munoz has showcased his goalscoring instincts with goals in each of Colombia's two World Cup games.

There's been plenty of noise surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's place in the Portugal side, with some questioning whether the 41-year-old is still capable of competing against the highest level of opponent. He answered his critics in the perfect fashion by scoring twice against Uzbekistan, to extend his phenomenal all-time record of 145 international goals. Now that he's back up and running, we're predicting Ronaldo to continue his good form by scoring against Colombia.

Colombia's best chance of nicking a goal may come from a set piece, with centre backs Davinson Sanchez and Jhon Lucumi posing a threat from such situations, as well as Crystal Palace's Jefferson Lerma. The South American side have had over 3.5 corners in each of their first two games, so we're selecting that again in our Portugal vs Colombia bet builder.

You can bet on each of these markets individually, or combine them to create a Portugal vs Colombia Bet Builder. With Bet Builder+, you can combine your bet with other World Cup matches, and also with different sports.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.