STAR WORLD CUP PREVIEW Mon: Portugal v Spain

Portugal face Spain in the World Cup Round of 16 in Dallas on Monday evening, and it’s Spain who go in as clear favourites, writes JOE CITRONE.

Roberto Martinez’s side have done what they’ve needed to do to get themselves into the last-16 of the World Cup, but haven’t massively impressed, with questions still being raised about Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in this team.

Portugal v Spain
World Cup Round of 16
20:00 BBC One / BBC iPlayer / BBC Sport Website

HEAD-TO-HEAD
JUN 2025 NATIONS LEAGUE FINAL Portugal 2-2 Spain
SEP 2022 NATIONS LEAGUE Portugal 0-1 Spain
JUN 2022 NATIONS LEAGUE Spain 1-1 Portugal
JUN 2021 FRIENDLY Spain 0-0 Portugal
OCT 2020 FRIENDLY Portugal 0-0 Spain

PORTUGAL
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Portugal 2-1 Croatia
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Colombia 0-0 Portugal
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
JUN 2026 FRIENDLY Portugal 2-1 Nigeria

SPAIN
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Spain 3-0 Austria
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Spain 1-0 Uruguay
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
JUN 2026 FRIENDLY Spain 3-1 Peru

STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS

Spain have also struggled at times at this tournament, but, following that surprising goalless draw to Cape Verde in their first match, looked to have hit their stride since the return of Lamine Yamal to the starting XI, which helped them comfortably dispatch Austria in the round-of-32.

The history between these two is tight. This is only their third World Cup meeting, after a 4-0 Spain win in 2010 and that unforgettable 3-3 in 2018, when Ronaldo scored a stoppage-time hat-trick. More recently, Portugal beat Spain on penalties in last summer’s Nations League final after a 2-2 draw – a game Spain led twice.
A fair few people fancied Portugal coming into this tournament as Ronaldo hunts down the World Cup he desperately craves in what he has now revealed will be his last attempt. However, with Spain now getting into their groove, I am strongly favouring Luis de la Fuente’s men here.

I am backing them to win in 90 minutes at 10/11 with starsports.bet, as well as Yamal to score anytime at 6/4.

---

RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Spain to win in 90 minutes 2pts at 10/11 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Lamine Yamal to score anytime 1pt at 6/4 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

---

(JULY 2026): PROFIT/LOSS: -6.52 points

---

STAR PROMOTIONS