Listen to reaction on Off the Ball
McTominay heads in McLean cross for shock opener
Fernandes shot eludes Gunn to level after break & Ronaldo scores late on
Scotland have now lost opening two Nations League game
FT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
And with that, I bid you goodnight.
Slide across to the 'report' tab to read the match report from my pal, and yours, Andrew Petrie.
Thanks once again for your company this evening.
We'll be back later in the week with Scottish Championship action, and it's a big'un with the Fife Derby.
Image source, SNSFT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
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FT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportsound
We have different types of players who can come on now. Before substitutions were like-for-like. We have different options now.
Conway looked bright. He certainly understands how to play that role.
Doak, Morgan and Gauld, we know they've got speed.
We've got Tierney to add to that. Ferguson to add to that. Hickey, if he can get over the horrific run of injuries he's had, and Patterson too.
The players who have came in have vindicated the manager's decision and there is positivity to take.
But we do have to start winning games. I'd take an ugly win.
Image source, SNSFT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
From the outset, Scotland were up against it.
Penned back on the edge of their own box, they were forced into playing a back-six at times as Bernardo Silva and Fernandes tried to pick holes in the defence.
The Scots stood strong in that low block, though. Bodies were thrown on the line, but extreme caution was used when tackling after two penalties were conceded on Thursday against Poland.
One problem was ball retention. When Scotland did win the ball, they rarely kept it for very long and struggled to hit either McTominay or Lyndon Dykes.
Occasionally though, they were able to string a passing move together and get it up the pitch.
Another issue for Clarke is the nagging, inevitable feeling that they will eventually concede.
That's now 33 goals shipped in 14 games. In the last six, they have been breached after the 85th minute on five occasions. There is a fragility that needs addressed.
There's also the small matter of this winless run. They are now without a victory in their last eight competitive fixtures, the longest such run in their history.
With four tough fixtures to come in the Nations League - Croatia home and away, plus Portugal at Hampden and a trip to Poland - it doesn't look like ending soon.
As for Ronaldo, what can you say? Maligned after a poor Euros, he was influential here.
He has now scored against 48 different countries, and stretched his lead at the top of the all-time international goalscorer chart in men's football.
Surely no one will catch him.
FT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored against 48 different nations.
His goal tonight, his 132nd for Portugal, comes four years since the day he scored his 100th.
Image source, SNSFT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Those games next month Clarke is referring to?
Croatia away and Portugal at home.
FT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Steve Clarke reiterates "there are a lot of positives".
"If you ignore the results, [there are a lot of positives] but we're professional so it's disappointing.
"We played well in these two games but we don't have anything to show for it. I've told the players not to be too hard on themselves. They have to understand the work that we're doing.
"We'll go away and analyse these games and hopefully we can give the lads a few pointers for the games next month which don't get any easier.
"When you bring quality players from the bench like Roberto can do you always know there's a risk but I felt we handled it well. With the amount of balls that go into the box, you know one of them can go in the back of the net and that's what happened to us."
FT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Image source, SNSHead coach Steve Clarke says Scotland "deserved something" against Portugal.
"I'm disappointed to lose a game where it looked, for a large period, we would get something from it," he said.
"I'm really disappointed for my players because I think they deserved to get something from the game.
"I reiterated to my players that we have to understand what part of the cycle we're in, what we're trying to build.
"We're trying to re-adjust after the summer. We can lose these matches to try and build and make sure that the end goal, as always, is to qualify for the tournament.
"It would be nice to get some points, it would be nice to not concede late goals but this is the level we're at. The players understand how difficult it is to get results at this level."
FT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
This man has taken his seat at his media conference.
Image source, SNSFT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Since Roberto Martinez’s first match in charge of Portugal in March 2023, Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in 21 goals (11 goals, 10 assists) in 20 appearances, four more than any other player.
Image source, SNSFT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
With the exception of McTominay’s bullet header, it felt like the entirety of the first-half was played in Scottish territory.
Rafael Leao terrorised the left-hand side, creating five fantastic chances either for himself or for a team-mate.
Gunn made two fine saves - one from Leao and another from Liverpool forward Diogo Jota - while watching a few other shots fly inches wide.
Every Portuguese roar made Scotland fans wince but the defence somehow stood firm until the break, battered, bruised and punch-drunk, but unbreached.
That was until Portugal's first real chance of the second-half.
A tame cutback was somewhat scuffed by Fernandes, but Gunn could only palm into his own net. Another individual error to add to a montage from Scotland's recent performances.
Scotland responded well, though. There were penalty shouts from Billy Gilmour and Ryan Christie - both correctly not given - while McTominay thundered a shot into Diogo Costa's midriff.
That was as good as it got for the visitors, though.
Portugal pushed again, led by Ronaldo. His backheel flick unlocked the Scottish defence and put Felix through on goal, but Gunn made amends with a superb save.
Three minutes later, Felix almost scored again with a diving header but Gunn was there again to deny him. Ronaldo hit a post on the follow-up, and hit the upright again in the next phase of play with a fantastic looping header.
Scotland did not heed the warning.
Mendes' teasing cross evaded Jota at the front-post, took out Gunn in the middle, and was bundled home by a jubilant Ronaldo - his 132nd Portugal goal celebrated just like his first.
FT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Feel ye, Scott.
Image source, SNSFT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportsound
Steve Clarke is not going to be happy because we lost the game from a [winning] position - though obviously it would have been a huge shock to go and win. He won't take any solace from it or say 'great effort'. But there were plenty of positives in there.
Clarke will look at performance levels and, we know he does not show too much emotion, so he will look at it and see what he likes - which I think will be a lot of it.
Two defeats in a row, it's difficult to look at it positively but I think there were a lot of positives to take going forward. We should not hold any fear. Scotland can build on this performance.
FT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Scotland have conceded 33 goals in their last 14 games.
Thirty-three.
Image source, SNSFT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Steve, you shouldn't have given him his baw back...
Image source, SNSFT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
John McGinn made his 54th start for Scotland under Steve Clarke, the outright most starts one player has made for the nation under a single manager
Image source, SNSFT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
We'll hear from this man shortly, and whether he agrees with Willie Miller or not.
Stick with us.
Image source, SNSFT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Willie Miller
Former Scotland international on BBC Sportsound
You've got to try and put on a performance. it's difficult away from home, I think at home you should have the mindset you can take on anybody.
But away from home, the atmosphere, the quality of the opposition, it's difficult. I think Scotland went out there tonight and showed the nation what they're capable of doing.
Steve Clarke structured those players to be defensively minded, but they were a threat going forward. They maybe didn't create too many chances or opportunities but they had Portugal rattled at points.
On the night I think Scotland showed a lot of quality that Steve Clarke will be more than happy with.
We know he won't be happy with the result but from the last two games he can be pleased with how they've performed as a team against top quality opposition.
The goal was well worked and magnificently taken by a player who's been growing in stature with every game and carries a goal threat.
Clarke is definitely on the right track, he's pointing the way towards World Cup qualification.
FT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
In need of some positivity, so let's naturally turn to Willie Miller for some optimism...
FT: Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Just, eh, aye.
No very good.
Cristiano Ronaldo had failed to score against the Scottish side in his first four attempts
Cristiano Ronaldo’s late Nations League winner broke Scotland hearts in Portugal and ensured Steve Clarke's side's dreadful run of form continued.
The visitors took a shock seventh-minute lead thanks to a Scott McTominay header and performed admirably in repelling Portugal’s 16 shots before the break.
Another individual error robbed them of the lead though, when Angus Gunn allowed Bruno Fernandes’ long-range strike to creep into the net after the break.
Ronaldo was introduced at half-time and twice hit a post before finally breaking the barricades, forcing in a delicious Nuno Mendes cross for his 901st career goal.
The defeat - after losing to Poland on Thursday - means Scotland are now without a win in their last eight competitive games, the worst run in their history, and have won just one of the last 14 games.
However, Clarke can take some encouragement from the nature of the performances in the two games in this window, even if they are bottom of their section after Croatia beat Poland 1-0.
With the exception of McTominay’s bullet header, it felt like the entirety of the first half was played in Scottish territory.
Rafael Leao terrorised the left-hand side, creating five fantastic chances either for himself or a team-mate.
Gunn made two fine saves - one from Leao and another from Liverpool forward Diogo Jota - while watching a few other shots fly inches wide.
Every Portuguese roar made Scotland fans wince but the defence somehow stood firm until the break - battered, bruised and punch-drunk but unbreached.
That was until Portugal's first real chance of the second half.
A tame cutback was somewhat scuffed by Fernandes, but Gunn could only palm into his own net. Another individual error to add to a montage from Scotland's recent performances.
Scotland responded well, though. There were penalty shouts from Billy Gilmour and Ryan Christie - both correctly not given - while McTominay thundered a shot into Diogo Costa's midriff.
That was as good as it got for the visitors, though.
Portugal pushed again, led by Ronaldo. His backheel flick unlocked the Scottish defence and put Felix through on goal, but Gunn made amends with a superb save.
Three minutes later, Felix almost scored again with a diving header but Gunn was there again to deny him. Ronaldo hit a post on the follow-up, hitting the upright again in the next phase of play with a fantastic looping header.
Scotland did not heed the warning.
Mendes' teasing cross evaded Jota at the front post, took out Gunn in the middle and was bundled home by a jubilant Ronaldo - his 132nd Portugal goal celebrated just like his first.
From the outset, Scotland were up against it.
Penned back on the edge of their own box, they were forced into playing a back six at times as Bernardo Silva and Fernandes tried to pick holes in the defence.
The Scots stood strong in that low block though. Bodies were thrown on the line but extreme caution was used when tackling after two penalties were conceded on Thursday against Poland.
One problem was ball retention. When Scotland did win the ball, they rarely kept it for very long and struggled to hit either McTominay or Lyndon Dykes.
Occasionally though, they were able to string a passing move together and get it up the pitch.
Another issue for Clarke is the nagging, inevitable feeling they will eventually concede.
That's now 33 goals shipped in 14 games. In the last six, they have been breached after the 85th minute on five occasions. There is a fragility that needs to be addressed.
There's also the small matter of this winless run: they are now without a victory in their last eight competitive fixtures, the longest such run in their history.
With four tough fixtures to come in the Nations League - Croatia home and away, Portugal at Hampden plus a trip to Poland - it doesn't look like ending soon.
As for Ronaldo, what can you say? Maligned after a poor Euros, he was influential here.
He has now scored against 48 different countries and stretched his lead at the top of the all-time international goalscorer chart in men's football.
Surely no-one can catch him.
'We have to understand what part of the cycle we're in' - Clarke
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "Obviously disappointed - it looked for a long period that we'd get something from the game. The effort and the quality the players put in, they deserved to get something.
"I reiterated to the players that we have to understand what part of the cycle we're in, what we're trying to do. We're trying to re-adjust after the summer, we can use these matches to try and build.
"The end goal is to qualify for a tournament. It would be nice to get some points, not to concede late goals but this is the level we're at because we have been a good team. There's been a lot of positives... if you ignore the results."
Scotland midfielder John McGinn: "A sickener at the end but much more like us in terms of level of performance, desire, commitment. Not many people gave us a chance of getting anything but the way we competed was brilliant.
"We're up against a top-class team. Once we conceded the first goal, it would have been easy for us to crumble and go under. We managed to get our foot on the ball and put them on the back foot.
"We've learned a lot from these two games. Individual mistakes in the first game, including my own, cost us. Tonight, it wasn't a case of individual mistakes - the pressure was just too much in the end."
Scotland are now without a victory in their last eight competitive fixtures (D3 L5), the longest such winless run in their history.
McTominay has now scored 11 Scotland goals, all in competitive fixtures.
This match was Andy Robertson’s 76th cap, taking him into joint-fifth on the Scotland all-time appearance list, level with Paul McStay.
Since Roberto Martinez’s first match in charge of Portugal in March 2023, Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in 21 goals (11 goals, 10 assists) in 20 appearances, four more than any other player.
Portugal had 16 shots in the first half, last attempting more in the opening 45 of a match in March 2021 – 17 v Azerbaijan. The total of 16 is also the most Scotland have faced in a first half since October 2012 (16 v Belgium).
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | Israel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 0 |
| |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | Azerbaijan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
|
| 4 | Estonia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | Cyprus | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 3 | Lithuania | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 4 | Kosovo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belarus | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
|
| 2 | Bulgaria | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armenia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
|
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 3 | Faroe Islands | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 4 | Latvia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Marino | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 2 | Gibraltar | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 3 | Liechtenstein | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moldova | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
|
| 2 | Andorra | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 3 | Malta | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 4 | Kazakhstan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 4 | Montenegro | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
Manager: Roberto MartĂnez
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Steve Clarke
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
UEFA Nations League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Portugal have won each of their last three meetings with Scotland by an aggregate score of 10-1, most recently winning 3-1 at Hampden Park in an October 2018 friendly.
Scotland have never won away in Portugal in seven previous attempts, losing six in a row since a 2-2 draw in 1950.
Portugal have won 20 of their last 24 home matches in all competitions (L4), whilst they haven’t drawn on home soil since a 0-0 stalemate with Spain back in October 2020.
Scotland are winless across their last seven competitive fixtures in all competitions (D3 L4), the joint-longest such streak of their history. This current run comes after the Scots had won 15 of their previous 18 competitive games (D1 L2).
Portugal will be aiming to start a UEFA Nations League campaign with back-to-back wins for third time, doing so in two of the previous three editions of the competition: in 2018-19 en route to being crowned champions and in 2020-21.
Scotland have won just two of their last 17 away games against opponents ranked higher than them in the FIFA rankings (D3 L12), though one of those did come in the UEFA Nations League back in September 2020, 2-1 against Czechia (also 1-0 vs. Austria in September 2021).
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 900th career goal last time out against Croatia, but has never before faced Scotland – the striker has failed to score in nine of his last 12 international games when facing a European nation for the first time, with the exceptions coming against Wales, Andorra and the Faroe Islands in 2016.
Scott McTominay – who had five of Scotland’s 11 shots on MD1 of the UFEA Nations League against Poland – has scored nine goals across his last 12 competitive appearances for his national team. Since the beginning of 2023 the Napoli midfielder (9) has scored at least six more goals than any of his Scotland teammates in all competitions (John McGinn – 3). Â
