McTominay header for Scotland saved and Gordon denies Portugal's Mendes & Fernandes
Scotland secure first point in Nations League A Group 1
Portugal lead group with 10 points from four games
FT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
It was important for Scotland to stop the run of defeats and they did it by rolling up their sleeves and digging in, limiting a top quality side to very few chances.
Something to build on for the November matches.
FT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez: "Their goalkeeper was incredible. We couldn't get a goal, but the performance was positive. Not many teams go undefeated.
"My responsibility is to look at new concepts. Results are a consequence of performances and, tonight, we deserved to win.
"The danger in these games is to think you're in control and then suffer on the counter-attack. We kept a clean sheet, we were in control, but we lacked the final pass and the magic inside the area."
Image source, SNSFT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
More from Steve Clarkefollowing tonight's draw: "Ben (Doak) was good for such a young man. To be asked to go again. It was a decision I weighed up in my mind, to maybe keep him for 30 minutes at the end. He did so well on Saturday that I thought it was better to start him.
"The players dug in and ground out a really good point for us. The fans can be nervous when the opposition have so much possession. But when they did create a big chance, Craig (Gordon) was there to save it. It's the first time in a long time I have celebrated a save."
On his centre-backs...
"They were both excellent. John (Souttar) is playing every week with Rangers so he has that little bit more fitness. Grant (Hanley) who isn't playing at Norwich, you have to give credit, after putting in those two performances."
FT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Remember, this was Steve Clarke's 62nd match in charge of Scotland.
Only Craig Brown has overseen more games with the national team.
FT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "The point was important for us after the work the group put in to get off the mark.
"Defensively sound. The shape of the team was good. We denied a lot of space in behind. Good concentration in the box, determined defending at times, some really good blocks, which you need against sides like Portugal. Everyone contributed to earn the point.
"Everyone keeps talking about confidence, but they know they can play well. We maybe didn't play as well as we could on the ball, which could be down to fatigue. But I don't think they lack confidence. Tonight's point will give us more confidence."
On Nicky Devlin's last-ditch block late in the game...
"Fantastic. First cap for Nicky. A moment to remember. He got us a point with that block. I had no doubt putting Nicky into the game. He's trained well and fitted right into the group. I knew when Tony (Ralston) was ready to come off that Nicky would be fine - and he was."
Image source, SNSFT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Scotland manager Steve Clarke is now talking to the media...
"It's not about turning a corner, it's just about working hard and not letting the country down. You could see that tonight."
More from Clarke in just a tick.
FT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Scotland defender John Souttar tells BBC Scotland: "It's our first point of the campaign and I think we deserved it. Over the course of the campaign we've been pretty unlucky not to pick up a point, so it's pleasing.
"I think it's always good to keep a clean sheet as a defender. It's a credit to the whole team and Craig in goal who pulled off a great save near the end.
"The boys are always striving for more. We had chances. When we look back on the game, we will be pleased."
"[Me and Ryan Gauld] grew up together, our parents are friends and we have played together since we were tiny. We went to the same school and we're now together in the national team, it's an amazing moment."
Image source, SNSFT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
I'd almost forgotten Scott McTominay had a glorious chance after just four or five minutes. Maybe it's just as well he headed straight at the keeper since his early goal in Lisbon didn't work out so well.
Image source, SNSFT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has been speaking to Uefa.com, saying: "It had to be a great defensive display as there's so much quality, so many goal threats in that Portugal team. It was a great performance by everyone to keep a clean sheet and get a point which was very important for us.
"We carved out a few chances and if we could have taken one of them we might have had all three points, but we have to be satisfied with a clean sheet. We got our campaign up and running with a point and we now look forward to the games next month and see if we can get a couple of wins in this group."
Image source, SNSFT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
While we wait to hear from Scotland boss Steve Clarke let's take a look at the remaining Nations League fixtures.
Scotland host Croatia on 15 November and go to Poland three days later.
Clarke's team might have to win both to stay in the A division and have a chance of making pot two for the World Cup draw.
FT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound
Tonight was a performance Scotland fans could really identify with. They were underdogs against a class team. They wanted honesty. And tonight they saw a huge amount of honesty and a great work-rate. It's all you can ask for.
They did carry a little bit of a threat at times, so I thought it was really good.
Image source, SNSFT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Does Angus Gunn get his place back when fit? I'm not so sure.
Craig Gordon made a great save to deny Bruno Fernandes late on and also kept out a stinging free-kick from Nuno Mendes in the first half.
The 41-year-old looks certain to add to his 77 caps after keeping his 32nd clean sheet.
Image source, SNSFT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Craig Levein
Former Scotland manager on Off The Ball
The replacement players can force their way in. The matches are the most important thing but impressing in training when you come into your first camp is so important.
Steve Clarke is so loyal, but he likes the ones who are committed and desperate to get a result for Scotland. He likes that kind of player who rolls their sleeves up and fight.
Image source, SNSFT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
That was Cristiano Ronaldo's 200th start for Portugal - 21 years and four days after his first, against Albania back in 2003.
Not a game he will look back on with much fondness since he was far from his brilliant best.
Image source, SNSFT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Scotland are now winless in their last 10 competitive matches (D4 L6), which is the longest ever run without victory.
It had been eight wins from nine prior to this run, with one draw, but the level of opposition has gone up a notch or two.
FT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Steven Thompson
Former Scotland striker on Sportsound
When Nicky Devlin made that block at the end, about five of his teammates came up and gave him a pat on the back. What a lift that must have given him.
He has been so, so consistent for Aberdeen. A guy you can hang your hat on every week. I'm delighted for him to get his cap and be a part of a good night for Scotland.
Image source, SNSFT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Leanne Crichton
Former Scotland international on Sportscene
Gauld's contributions have been really good, really positive. He takes care of the ball and looks to link the play. He's brave on the ball and has an engine, going box to box at times.
I would like to see more of him. He is one of these players having to bide his time, just waiting for that moment.
FT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Portugal attempted 715 passes tonight - their highest amount in this Nations League campaign.
They had 14 attempted shots - their lowest amount in this campaign.
All bark, no bite.
FT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound
I thought it was a brilliant defensive performance from Scotland. Souttar was immense, Hanley was good. The whole defensive function of the team, and you can extend that up to McLean and everyone else, worked their socks off.
Devlin did brilliantly at the end. Leao doesn't catch it properly because he sees Devlin coming at him. To make up the space and get his body in the way, really good. Fair play to him.
I've never been so happy to see a 0-0 draw.
FT: Scotland 0-0 Portugal
Scotland's last three home competitive matches with Portugal have all been goalless.
John Souttar was a rock at the back after the pain of missing out on the Euros.
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating night at Hampden, failing to score with his four shots
Scotland delivered a resolute defensive display to hold Portugal to a goalless draw and secure the first point of their Nations League A campaign.
The Scots passed up a glorious chance in the opening minutes through Scott McTominay and were then starved of possession as the visitors searched for an opener.
Cristiano Ronaldo was frustrated in his attempts to register a 134th goal in Portugal colours on his 200th international start as home goalkeeper Craig Gordon and his defence held firm.
The draw means Steve Clarke's side have now won just one of their past 16 matches, but they avoided the unwanted history of becoming the first Scotland team to lose five straight matches.
After the struggles at the Euros and this Nations League campaign, Scotland needed to give the Hampden crowd something to feed off and had a massive chance to do that just four minutes in.
Ben Doak surged free wide on the left and teed up Andy Robertson to deliver a lovely cross to pick out McTominay completely unmarked in the box, but his header from eight yards out was straight at Diogo Costa in the Portugal goal.
It was the type of chance, against this level of opposition, you simply have to take.
Ronaldo, who broke Scottish hearts when the sides met in Lisbon last month with the late decisive goal in Portugal's 2-1 victory, had his first sight of goal, but his low effort from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Gordon.
Ryan Christie stung the palms of Costa with a half-volley from the edge of the box, while at the other end Gordon was called into action to claw away a free-kick from Nuno Mendes.
The visitors were dominating the ball and Francisco Conceicao blew a decent chance when he ballooned his effort way over the bar after being teed up by Ronaldo.
Portugal continued to probe away at the Scottish defence without ever looking like stretching the hosts' rearguard to breaking point.
Substitute Lewis Morgan crossed for Che Adams to nod down into the path of McTominay, but the Napoli man could not apply the finishing touch.
A big chance came 15 minutes from time when Anthony Ralston sprung the Portugal offside trap, and with McTominay sprinting into the box in support, a pinpoint cross would surely have brought a goal, but the pass was heavy and the chance was lost.
Gordon produced a big save in the closing moments to deny Bruno Fernandes, and there was one more heart-stopping moment as debutant Nicky Devlin hurled himself in front of Rafael Leao's goal-bound effort to ensure the Scots held on for a point.
Despite losing all three previous games in the group - single-goal defeats at home to Poland and away to Portugal and Croatia - there was enough in those performances to offer hope the Scots could at least compete with the Portuguese superstars on their own patch.
It was not always pretty, but for 90 minutes, competitive is exactly what they were. They created a couple of early openings - the McTominay chance the most glaring - and coped admirably with the speed and movement of the visiting attack.
As the game wore on they saw less and less of the ball, though, as the backline dropped deeper and deeper and Adams up front, selected ahead of Lyndon Dykes, was left battling for scraps or challenging for balls in the air against the comparatively imposing figures of Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva and Joao Cancelo.
As a defensive unit the Scots were organised and resolute and limited their illustrious opponents to very few clear-cut chances. The problem once again was their inability to offer a significant attacking threat.
Teenager Doak had few opportunities to make an impression on just his second international start, and McTominay looked yet again the most likely to provide a goal. With that early headed chance, he should have.
Clarke and his depleted team - shorn of regulars John McGinn, Kieran Tierney and Angus Gunn - simply had to stop the bleeding of recent defeats and this point, against one of Europe's top sides, gives them something tangible for their considerable efforts in this first block of games.
A packed Hampden crowd watch Cristiano Ronaldo's 216th Portugal appearance
Al-Nassr striker Ronaldo, having scored in each of his country's three previous Nations League victories to take his international goal tally to an outrageous 133, as always looked to take centre stage on his first appearance at Hampden.
He prompted boos from the home crowd as he remonstrated with referee Lawrence Visser, then huge cheers from the Hampden faithful followed as he comically gave the ball away from a free-kick after being clattered by his former Manchester United team-mate McTominay.
On the half-hour mark, the Real Madrid great and Portuguese icon attempted a bicycle kick, only to be penalised for a high boot.
Ronaldo smacked the Hampden turf after sending a header over the bar from 12 yards early in the second half and was then denied by a last-ditch tackle from Grant Hanley as he was ready to pull the trigger having broken into the box.
The greatest scorer in the history of men's international football had one last attempt, slicing wide after dancing inside a couple of defenders, and, with that, his chance to mark his Hampden bow with a goal was gone.
For all their dominance of the ball, Portugal were wasteful in the final third. But with three wins and this draw in their Nations League campaign so far, boss Roberto Martinez is unlikely to be too concerned with one off-night in front of goal.
'Everybody contributed' in Scotland draw with Portugal - Steve Clarke
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "It's not about turning a corner, it's just about working hard and not letting the country down. The point was important for us after the work the group put in to get off the mark.
"Defensively sound. The shape of the team was good. We denied a lot of space in behind. Good concentration in the box, determined defending at times, some really good blocks, which you need against sides like Portugal. Everyone contributed to earn the point.
"Everyone keeps talking about confidence, but they know they can play well. We maybe didn't play as well as we could on the ball, which could be down to fatigue. But I don't think they lack confidence."
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez: "Steve Clarke is building a national team that looks like a club and that's a big, big compliment.
"Everybody works for each other, they know the structure. They're brave when they have to be, they've got quick attacks.
"Full credit to Steve Clarke and the technical staff, they're doing a great job."
Scotland 'look like a club', says Portugal head coach Roberton Martinez
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | Israel | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 13 | -9 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 5 |
| |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| |
| 3 | Estonia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 3 |
|
| 4 | Azerbaijan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 12 |
| |
| 2 | Kosovo | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
|
| 3 | Cyprus | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 3 |
|
| 4 | Lithuania | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| |
| 2 | Belarus | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
|
| 3 | Bulgaria | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 5 |
|
| 4 | Luxembourg | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 2 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | Armenia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 4 |
|
| 3 | Latvia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 4 |
|
| 4 | Faroe Islands | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gibraltar | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
|
| 2 | San Marino | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
|
| 3 | Liechtenstein | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moldova | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
|
| 2 | Malta | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
|
| 3 | Andorra | 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 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 6 |
| |
| 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 12 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 3 |
| |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| |
| 4 | Kazakhstan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | Montenegro | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
|
Manager: Steve Clarke
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Roberto Martínez
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Steve Clarke
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Roberto Martínez
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
UEFA Nations League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Scotland have lost each of their last four matches against Portugal with the Scots only currently on a longer run of defeats against Belgium (6 – last meeting 2019) and Brazil (6 – last meeting 2011).
Portugal won 3-1 on their last away trip to Scotland in an October 2018 friendly, but have never previously won back-to-back such games (W1 D2 L4 prior).
Scotland have lost each of their last four matches in all competitions, each by a margin of a single goal. Never before in the nation’s history have they lost five successive games.
Portugal have won each of their last seven competitive away games by an aggregate score of 22-1. They have never won eight such fixtures in a row before in their history.
Scotland are without a win in their last five home matches in all competitions (D2 L3), the joint-longest such run in their history after also going five without winning between November 2007 to November 2008.
Portugal have won 15 and lost just one of their last 18 competitive internationals (D2), with that sole defeat coming to Georgia at EURO 2024 (0-2).
Of Ryan Christie’s seven goals for Scotland, four have come in the UEFA Nations League (57%). Indeed, Christie has more goal involvements in the competition (8 – 4 goals, 4 assists) than any other player for Scotland.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in all three of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League games in 2024-25. The forward last netted in four successive international appearances in June 2021.
