Portugal vs. Uruguay Betting Tips: Joao Felix backed in crunch clash

The final match of the second wave of group stage fixtures promises to be a cracker as Portugal take on Uruguay in Group H on Monday night (7pm).

JimmyThePunt has previewed the match and provided two tips for your perusal...

Portugal kicked off their World Cup campaign with three points as they beat Ghana 3-2. 

The victory was not as routine as it perhaps should have been though as Fernando Santos’ side almost squandered a 3-1 lead. 

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When Rafael Leão doubled A Seleção’s advantage 10 minutes from time, it looked like the game was wrapped up. However, Osman Bukari's goal with one minute remaining set the game up for a nervy finish.

And it was almost a disastrous conclusion when Diogo Costa forgot to check his shoulder with seconds remaining. He put the ball down and Iñaki Williams, who was lurking behind him, pounced but slipped at the crucial moment, squandering the chance to equalise. 

Nevertheless, Portugal hung on and after coming through that game unscathed, Santos could name an unchanged XI on Monday. 

As for Uruguay, Ronald Araujo is expected to miss the remainder of the group stages with an adductor injury. However, he did not feature in their opener so Diego Alonso could also name an unchanged side. 

It took 65 minutes for the deadlock to be broken in Portugal’s curtain raiser against Ghana, and that came via Cristiano Ronaldo’s spot kick. 

The same cannot be said for Uruguay’s opener, a stalemate with South Korea. According to FIFA, that game was the only World Cup game this decade not to see a shot on target registered, though Opta will dispute that saying Matias Vecino called Kim Seung-Gyu into action. 

Nevertheless, La Celeste could only muster an xG of 0.68 despite Diego Godin and Federico Valverde rattling the woodwork. 

Considering how these two sides' last games went, I think backing things to be all square at half-time is a worthy punt, especially at a touch over evens. 

Interestingly, this is a bet that has clicked in half of the 24 games thus far and with these two so evenly matched, I think this clash will follow suit. 

Five minutes after Andre Ayew levelled things up, Joao Felix was slipped in by Bruno Fernandes. 

There was an element of fortune about how the pass wriggled through Rahman Baba. However, once the ball was at the feet of the Portuguese forward, despite the tightening angle and growing pressure from looming defenders, Felix was never going to miss.  

The cheek of his chipped finish, testament to the confidence he plays with, somewhat similar to his strike partner. 

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It was not a foregone conclusion that he would dispatch this half-chance though, in fact Infogol suggested there was just a 23% chance he would score, which just highlights the quality of the finish. 

There is no disputing that since bursting onto the scene at 18 years old with Benfica, bagging 15 league goals, Felix’s career has not reached the heights he would have hoped. Moving to Madrid to play in a system that does not suit him has been the main factor in this stagnation. 

The frontman has always scored goals though, and with a career goals per 90 average of 0.46, bet365’s price of 10/3 certainly represents value here. 

Did you know that bet365 pay your team out as a winner if they go 2 goals ahead at any time in the match (available on over 80 leagues and competitions, T&C's apply). Find out more on our bet365 offers page.