Hungary v Portugal betting tips: Ronaldo in Euro record bid
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Defending champions Portugal get their campaign under way against a Hungary team that appeared in their first major tournament in 30 years at Euro 2016 when they reached the knockout stage.
The two nations produced one of the best matches of the tournament in France five years ago when Portugal came back from a goal down three times to secure a 3-3 draw.
Another draw is priced at 16/5 but let’s look at some of the other markets as part of our Hungary v Portugal betting tips.
Match Odds
Portugal are 8/1 fifth favourites to make a successful defence of their title but they must beat minnows Hungary to stand a chance of getting out of a group also comprising world champions France and Germany, although it should not be forgotten four of the six best third-placed team will qualify for the last 16.
Despite that draw in France, Portugal have won six of their last seven meetings with Hungary, including victories in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
Portugal are 2/5 to start with a victory, 23/20 to win to nil or alternatively evens to do so with three or fewer match goals as was the case in both games four years ago.
Three of Portugal’s previous four competitive matches have also produced at least four goals, just like in Euro 2016, and that outcome is available at 12/5.
Although Hungary are priced as 7/1 underdogs, they have had some encouraging results lately, drawing against Serbia and Poland, both of which saw goals at both ends, in between a 2-0 Nations League victory over Turkey.
A score draw is 19/4 and goals at both ends are available at 23/20 while a 3-0 victory for Portugal, which has occurred in three of the last six meetings, can be backed at 8/1.
Talking Tactics
Portugal coach Fernando Santos deployed a 4-2-3-1 system for the 3-1 World Cup qualifying win in Luxembourg which saw Joao Felix, Diogo Jota and Bernardo Silva playing behind Cristiano Ronaldo, with Renato Sanches and Ruben Neves in the holding midfielder roles.
Santos had gone with a 4-3-3 formation for the 2-2 draw with Serbia, with Silva and Jota playing in more advanced roles, but Joao Cancelo has pulled out of the tournament having tested positive for coronavirus and has been replaced by Diogo Dalot.
Counterpart Marco Rossi likes to play with three central defenders and wing-backs, but the loss of RB Leipzig’s Dominik Szoboszlai is a big loss in the heart of midfield.
Willi Orban and Attila Szalai will start in the back three but the third spot is up for grabs.
Goalscorer Odds
Ronaldo tops the European Championship goalscoring chart alongside Michel Platini with nine goals and only Harry Kane scored more than his 11 in qualifying, so he is 15/8 favourite to get the opener.
Liverpool forward Jota is also in decent nick having scored a double in the 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw with Serbia towards the end of March and three days later grabbed the equaliser in a 3-1 win in Luxembourg. Jota is 9/2 to break the deadock and 11/5 to get on the scoresheet.
Ruben Dias bagged a brace in the 3-2 win in Croatia in November and is an interesting option at 11/1 to score for those looking for a bigger price.
Hungary are not blessed with lethal strikers but Freiburg striker Roland Sallai has been in the goals for his country lately and is 6/1 to get on the scoresheet.
Match Info
Where: Puskas Arena, Budapest
When: 17:00, Tuesday 15th June
How to watch: ITV
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
