Portugal's foreign-based players delivered strong individual performances in the Champions League this week, boosting confidence ahead of the national team's next qualifier against Denmark. The national side arrives at this fixture on a four-game winning run, including their last result, a 2-1 victory over Norway on 4 October.
Bernardo Silva also shone, scoring for Real Madrid in their 4-1 rout of RB Leipzig on Wednesday. The Portuguese international played the full 90 minutes. In the same PSG match, João Neves also started and contributed an assist against a Barcelona side featuring fellow Portuguese defender João Cancelo, who played the full match and was booked. Cancelo was in fact one of the goalscorers in Portugal's most recent win on 4 October, alongside Gonçalo Ramos.
Other displays across Europe
Rúben Dias was substituted in the 83rd minute of Manchester City's 5-1 win over AEK Athens. On a less positive note, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot both started in Manchester United's heavy 4-1 loss to Como.
These club displays arrive during a period of high confidence for the Seleção. The next fixture is a key qualifier at home to Denmark on 14 November.
The consistency of Portugal's internationals at club level is a positive sign for the manager, who must decide his starting lineup for the Denmark clash. With players in form across Europe's top competitions, Martínez's options are deep and competitive. Vitinha, who scored in that match, and Gonçalo Ramos, who scored on both 1 and 4 October, are among the squad's most in-form players.
