Denmark v Portugal preview: Ronaldo-less leaders face Parken test in Nations League
Denmark v Portugal preview: team news, form, head-to-head and key numbers as the Nations League leaders visit Parken without Cristiano Ronaldo.
Group leaders Portugal head to Copenhagen tonight without Cristiano Ronaldo, and Denmark know a win at Parken would pull them level on points at the top of the table.
Main image: DSN graphic. Photo: Ludovic Péron / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Kick-off is 7.45pm UK time in this Nations League League A match, with Ukrainian referee Mykola Balakin in charge.
The story so far
Portugal have won both of their opening games under Jorge Jesus: 1-0 at home to Wales and 2-1 away to Norway. Denmark’s start has been patchier. They lost a five-goal thriller 3-2 in Norway, then bounced back with a 2-0 win over Wales.
The build-up has been dominated by Ronaldo. The Portugal captain left the camp on Wednesday night after Jesus said he would not start. Read the full story: Ronaldo quits Portugal camp.
Team news
Denmark coach Brian Riemer is without several first-team regulars. Patrick Dorgu (hamstring), Andreas Christensen (hamstring), Albert Grønbæk (thigh) and Alexander Bah (shoulder) are all reported to be out.
Rasmus Højlund is expected to lead the attack, supported by Mikkel Damsgaard and Gustav Isaksen, while Morten Hjulmand and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg should form the midfield shield.
For Portugal, Gonçalo Ramos is the likely starter up front. João Félix, who has scored in both Nations League games, should line up behind him alongside Bruno Fernandes, with Vitinha and João Neves in central midfield and Rúben Dias marshalling the defence.
Key numbers
| Denmark | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Group position | 3rd | 1st |
| Points | 3 | 6 |
| Record (W-D-L) | 1-0-1 | 2-0-0 |
| Goals for / against | 4 / 3 | 3 / 1 |
| Form | L W | W W |
| Last meeting | Portugal 5-2 Denmark (aet), March 2025 | |
| Last meeting at Parken | Denmark 1-0 Portugal, March 2025 | |
Also on DSN: Hojlund does Ronaldo celebration and brushes past Jesus as Portugal win 4-2 in Denmark.
Our sister site DGBN has also covered the Nations League team news around Wales.
What to watch
These two sides met in the Nations League quarter-finals in March 2025. Denmark won the first leg 1-0 in Copenhagen before Portugal turned the tie around with a 5-2 win after extra time in Lisbon.
The full picture across all four League A groups is on the official UEFA Nations League standings page.
Parken is a tough place to visit, and Denmark have proved they can hurt Portugal there. With Norway and Wales meeting in Cardiff at the same time, Riemer’s side have a real chance to close the gap on the leaders.
For Jesus, this is a chance to show his squad can win without their record goalscorer. Another victory would leave Portugal at least three points clear at the halfway stage and put a lot of the off-field noise to rest. Elsewhere tonight, Jürgen Klopp is chasing his first Germany win: read our Germany v Serbia preview.
