Portugal Player Ratings vs Denmark: Bruno Fernandes Leads Selecao to 4-2 Win

Portugal secured a thrilling 4-2 win against Denmark at Parken, maintaining their perfect record in the UEFA Nations League A. Bruno Fernandes stood out with creative brilliance, while Goncalo Ramos and Joao Felix were clinical in front of goal, ensuring the visitors left Copenhagen with all three points.

The match started fast as Joao Cancelo opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Denmark responded quickly through Mikkel Damsgaard, but Portugal’s superior technical skills shone through before halftime when Goncalo Ramos scored, assisted by Fernandes. The second half saw Denmark’s Rasmus Hoejlund equalize early, but Portugal kept their composure, with Vitinha restoring the lead and Joao Felix sealing the win late on.

Despite Denmark having more possession, Portugal were ruthlessly efficient, managing 10 shots on target and an expected goals (xG) total of 2.67. This marked Portugal’s third straight victory in their group.

Goalkeeper and Defense

• Diogo Costa - 6/10: Faced a busy night, though he couldn’t stop Denmark’s two close-range goals. His distribution helped Portugal bypass the Danish press during quick turnovers.
• Joao Cancelo - 8/10: Frequently moved inside to create numerical advantages centrally and scored the opening goal. His technical control was crucial before being subbed off in the 63rd minute.
• Ruben Dias - 7/10: Anchored the defense amid physical battles, making vital clearances and maintaining good positioning despite the game’s intensity.
• Renato Veiga - 6/10: Delivered a solid performance for his experience level, briefly troubled by Denmark’s forwards but recovered well to keep the defensive line intact.
• Nuno Mendes - 7/10: Used his pace effectively down the left wing. His recovery runs and disciplined defending limited Denmark to just three shots on target from twelve attempts.

Midfield

• Vitinha - 8/10: A steady presence in midfield who showed great timing and spatial awareness to score Portugal’s third goal, breaking Denmark’s spirit. Kept possession well under pressure.
• Ruben Neves - 7/10: Played deep to protect the backline and provided a stable platform for Fernandes to operate freely. Controlled tempo and blocked Denmark’s counter-attacks.
• Bruno Fernandes - 9/10: Clear standout player and Man of the Match. Created two assists, constantly threading passes through Denmark’s midfield. His vision was pivotal to Portugal’s attacking threat and high xG output.

Attack

• Pedro Neto - 6/10: Used speed to stretch defenses but lacked accuracy in final passes. Worked hard defensively supporting Cancelo but was overshadowed offensively.
• Rafael Leao - 6/10: Threatened on transitions, although clear chances were scarce. Replaced after 60 minutes for tactical reasons.
• Goncalo Ramos - 8/10: Efficient striker who scored in the 25th minute. Linked play well and served as a focal point for many attacks, helping Portugal fire many shots on goal.

Substitutes and Manager

• Diogo Dalot - 7/10: Came on at 63 minutes and made an immediate impact with an assist for Joao Felix’s goal, showing attacking intent from full-back.
• Trincao - 6/10: Brought on to maintain possession on the wing and help Portugal control the closing stages.
• Joao Felix - 8/10: Made a perfect cameo, scoring in the 87th minute shortly after coming on to secure the win.
• Joao Neves - 6/10: Entered late to add energy in midfield and help close out the game.
• Tomas Araujo - N/A: Introduced during stoppage time to strengthen defense.
• Jorge Jesus - 8/10: The manager’s tactics paid off with clinical finishing and effective substitutions, particularly Dalot and Felix combining to end Denmark’s resistance.

UEFA Nations League A Upcoming Fixtures

• Portugal vs Norway: 4 October 2026, 21:45
• Wales vs Denmark: 4 October 2026, 21:45