Portugal vs Slovakia score, result, analysis as Cristiano Ronaldo double helps Selecao reach Euro 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice to take his tally to 125 international goals as Portugal held off a late comeback from Slovakia to continue their perfect Euro 2024 qualifying campaign and seal qualification for the finals with three games to spare in Porto.
More to follow
The Sporting News followed the match live, providing updates and highlights.
MORE: Portugal vs Slovakia prediction, odds, betting tips
Portugal vs Slovakia result
| Live score | Goalscorers | |
| Portugal | 3 | Goncalo Ramos (18), Cristiano Ronaldo (29, 72) |
| Slovakia | 2 | David Hancko (69), Stanislav Lobotka (80) |
Starting lineups:
Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa (GK) – Dalot, Antonio Silva, Ruben Dias, Cancelo – Bernardo Silva, Palhinha, Bruno Fernandes – Leao, Goncalo Ramos, Ronaldo
Slovakia (4-3-3): Dubravka (GK) – Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko – Duda, Lobotka, Kucka – Mak, Bozenik, Schranz
Portugal vs Slovakia live updates, highlights, commentary
Fulltime: Portugal qualify for Euro 2024!
The Selecao hold off Slovakia’s late comeback in dire conditions to reach Uefa Euro 2024!
It wasn’t quite as serene as their campaign had been until tonight, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s two goals have helped his side secure their spot at the finals in Germany next summer.
Slovakia remain in a strong position to qualify in second, third-placed Luxembourg having drawn 1-1 in Iceland.
Cristiano ????#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/dQpyuQBTyW
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) October 13, 2023
88 mins: Portugal 3-2 Slovakia
Bruno Fernandes curls in a vicious, inviting free-kick from the right. No Portugal recipient can meet it effectively at the far post.
85 mins: Portugal 3-2 Slovakia
Goncalo Ramos, Bernardo Silva and Joao Palhinha make way for Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves and Otavio.
82 mins: Portugal 3-2 Slovakia
Slovakia have now achieved what no team could manage in eight Portugal qualifying games, scoring against the Selecao – and doing so twice with Stanislav Lobotka’s tremendous finish.
80 mins: GOAL – Portugal 3-2 Slovakia (Stanislav Lobotka)
That will very likely be the pick of the goals tonight! Stanislav Lobotka fires a sensational strike beyond Diogo Costa from well outside the penalty area.
Can Slovakia level during the remaining 10 minutes or so? That will certainly give them momentum.
78 mins: Portugal 3-1 Slovakia
Substitute Joao Felix sends an effort wide. Slovakia are low on time to reduce the deficit again.
75 mins: Portugal 3-1 Slovakia
Martin Dubravka pushes Bruno Fernandes’ strike behind. Without wishing to persistently talk about the weather, that save is made more impressive by the perilous goalkeeping conditions.
72 mins: GOAL – Portugal 3-1 Slovakia (Cristiano Ronaldo)
Goal number 125!
It was remiss not to point out that Joao Cancelo went on a scintillating run through the centre before skying a shot over the crossbar just before Slovakia scored.
This time the defender whips in a low cross from the right, straight onto the boot of Ronaldo at the far post to slot in.
A VAR check takes place to the sound of jeers. It’s given!
71 mins: Portugal 2-1 Slovakia
A reminder: Portugal will need to win to go through tonight if Luxembourg, who are currently drawing 1-1 in Iceland, don’t lose.
69 mins: GOAL – Portugal 2-1 Slovakia (David Hancko)
Portugal’s flawless defensive record in qualifying is over!
David Hancko tries a low shot from distance, which seems advisable on the slippery turf. It hits Antonio Silva on an ankle inside the penalty area, wrong-footing Diogo Costa and arrowing in!
66 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Cristiano Ronaldo produces that gritted smile after performing a plethora of stepovers while trying to befuddle a marker inside the penalty area to no avail.
63 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
No let-up for Slovakia if they were hoping to have fewer threats to deal with: Joao Felix replaces Rafael Leao. The Milan attacker evidently isn’t perturbed by the downpour, because he doesn’t look best pleased about coming off.
60 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Few chances to speak of, with Slovakia – who’ve now had their first two attempts of the game in this half, the second of which required a reasonably routine save from Diogo Costa – improving a little.
It’s far from accommodating weather for flowing football.
57 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez is a hardy man. Where some people would probably have donned a jacket approximately half an hour ago, the coach has only just reverted to putting his on.
Perhaps it’s all those winters he spent sampling the English weather.
54 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Could the weather become an issue here? The ball is holding up a bit on the turf. It’s torrential. Portugal will be desperate for no interruptions with a place in the finals tantalisingly close.
51 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
If Slovakia can’t reply, it’ll be nine successive qualifying matches without conceding a goal for Portugal – extending their own best ever run in that regard.
No signs of that changing during this second half, but the weather is – the rain is getting even heavier.
48 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Those Slovakia changes haven’t had the required effect. Denis Vavro, who conceded the penalty from which Cristiano Ronaldo scored Portugal’s second, lofts the danger away in front of his own goal as the hosts threaten again.
46 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Slovakia, who need to find momentum, make two changes at the break: Laszlo Benes and Tomas Suslov replace Juraj Kucka and Robert Mak.
Halftime: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
There’s time for one last Portugal attempt, Cristiano Ronaldo lifting an overhead kick from a cross over the target, then sticking out his tongue and smiling.
Ronaldo’s reaction sums up his side’s half. They’ve been utterly dominant and deservedly lead 2-0. A place in the finals beckons unless Slovakia can summon something extraordinary.
Gonçalo Ramos ????
???????? 7 goals in 9 games for Portugal ⚽️#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/4NsgPD3AcC
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) October 13, 2023
45 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
There will be one minute of added time. Slovakia will probably be pleased to discover that.
43 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Goncalo Ramos hits the post! Cristiano Ronaldo canters forward, performs a stepover inside the penalty area and blasts in a low cross-shot, which reaches his fellow scorer in an onside position at the far post, which is exactly what his effort connects with as he reaches out a leg. Unlucky!
41 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
At the risk of making this sound like the Cristiano Ronaldo show, the main man would clearly like it to meet that description.
He sees a fierce shot blocked behind, then grins and gees up the crowd with both arms as the rain thuds down in Porto.
39 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Cristiano Ronaldo should have had a second! Bernardo Silva clumps in a fierce shot that Martin Dubravka can only parry into the striker’s path, but it comes at him too quickly for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to adjust his feet, ricocheting off his lower leg and bobbling just wide of the open goal.
37 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
More generosity from Slovakia allows Goncalo Ramos to stab a low shot towards goal. Martin Dubravka gathers.
35 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Slovakia have toiled to create anything telling in attack tonight, and they struggle again when presented with a free-kick near the Portugal penalty area on the left, the opportunity quietly fizzling out.
32 mins: Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Exhibition play from Portugal, Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo all combining skilfully on the right.
The flow of attempts has eased up but they’re clearly enjoying themselves.
29 mins: GOAL – Portugal 2-0 Slovakia (Cristiano Ronaldo)
International goal number 124 for Cristiano Ronaldo! The Portugal captain rolls his penalty past Martin Dubravka and slinks off to celebrate.
Portugal are hurtling towards qualification!
28 mins: Portugal 1-0 Slovakia
Penalty to Portugal! Denis Vavro is adjudged to have handled a Rafael Leao cross in a transgression that didn’t appear to be in any way contentious.
Inevitably, Cristiano Ronaldo steps up…
25 mins: Portugal 1-0 Slovakia
Martin Dubravka might feel he should have stopped that goal, but now he produces a superb save to keep Bruno Fernandes’ close-range free header out with one hand!
Portugal have had all of the early chances. They’re threatening to run away with this.
23 mins: Portugal 1-0 Slovakia
Bernardo Silva drills a first-time shot from outside the penalty area down into the turf and comfortably wide. The Manchester City magician was reacting after Slovakia partially cleared a corner into his path.
20 mins: Portugal 1-0 Slovakia
Portugal haven’t conceded a goal in this qualifying campaign. This will be some achievement if Slovakia can salvage a point or three.
18 mins: GOAL – Portugal 1-0 Slovakia (Goncalo Ramos)
Portugal are on course for the finals!
Bruno Fernandes wedges a deft cross towards the centre of the penalty area, where Goncalo Ramos rises unmarked to steer a header beyond Martin Dubravka.
That’s seven goals in nine Portugal appearances for the scorer!
16 mins: Portugal 0-0 Slovakia
Slovakia hit the post! Antonio Silva can only apply a wayward touch to a cross from the left in front of his own goal, and Diogo Costa touches the deflection on to the woodwork with a reflex stop.
End-to-end entertainment. Portugal look a little rattled for the first time!
14 mins: Portugal 0-0 Slovakia
Two fines saves in quick succession from Martin Dubravka!
The Slovakia goalkeeper initially keeps out Bruno Fernandes’ shot from distance. Portugal’s ensuing attack ends with Rafael Leao planting a firm header towards goal, only for Dubravka to deny him expertly.
11 mins: Portugal 0-0 Slovakia
Bruno Fernandes tries to locate Cristiano Ronaldo at the far post with a long, angled cross from the left towards his former Manchester United team-mate.
Martin Dubravka advances and claims.
8 mins: Portugal 0-0 Slovakia
Portugal look certain to score amid chaos in front of the Slovakia goal! Ronaldo tries a backheel which is cleared off the line, then Bernardo Silva almost converts from approximately two millimetres out.
It’s offside, though.
6 mins: Portugal 0-0 Slovakia
Portugal win successive corners. First, Cristiano Ronaldo picks up possession after some Slovakia slackness, firing in a thunderous diagonal shot from outside the penalty area that takes a deflection and goes wide of the far post.
Then a brilliant piece of trickery from Joao Cancelo on the right allows him to burst between two players, only for Slovakia to see the danger away at the expense of another set-piece.
4 mins: Portugal 0-0 Slovakia
Not much to report during the early stages. Neither side has had a meaningful attack yet, while Portugal have had more of the ball, as you’d expect.
2 mins: Portugal 0-0 Slovakia
Portugal ping passes around at the back during the opening two minutes. Joao Cancelo shows some nifty control to keep the ball in by one of the corner flags nearest his goal as Slovakia try to apply pressure.
1 mins to KO: The referees are in a fetching neon light green tonight. Portugal pose for a photo. Then captains Milan Skriniar and Cristiano Ronaldo exchange pennants.
2 mins to KO: The anthems are being recited! Portugal boss Roberto Martinez is looking sharp in a suit tonight.
15 mins to KO: Stat attack: Portugal have lost one of their last 27 Euro qualifying matches at home, winning 20 of them.
They’ve also won four and drawn one of their previous five matches against Slovakia.
Picturesque in Porto ????#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/YebMzljH9e
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) October 13, 2023
35 mins to KO: Slovakia have won four of their last five games, the exception being that defeat to Portugal. Want an example of the danger they pose? We can oblige.
???????? Dávid Hancko straight from kick-off ????#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/YIn4ne6VV5
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) October 13, 2023
40 mins to KO: A reminder of the permutations: Portugal will qualify if they win, or if they draw and Luxembourg lose in Iceland.
There are potential consequences elsewhere because of the result here, too: Bosnia and Herzegovina will be unable to finish in the top two if Slovakia win and they lose – and Iceland face that same scenario.
O 11 inicial da Seleção chegou! pic.twitter.com/YEthfVhUA2
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) October 13, 2023
1 hour to KO: Those starting sides…
Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa (GK) – Dalot, Antonio Silva, Ruben Dias, Cancelo – Bernardo Silva, Palhinha, Bruno Fernandes – Leao, Goncalo Ramos, Ronaldo
Slovakia (4-3-3): Dubravka (GK) – Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko – Duda, Lobotka, Kucka – Mak, Bozenik, Schranz
1 hour 5 mins to KO: It’s not exactly the most astounding development, but Cristiano Ronaldo starts for Portugal!
Full lineups on the way…
1 hour 20 mins to KO: Let’s hear from Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, who emphasised that Slovakia were “better than us” in the first half of this fixture in Bratislava.
“They played very well and worked well without the ball, with aggression,” Martinez said. “In the second half, we were better. What we will see on Friday is a very well-crafted Slovakia. Our players know this and have already shown that when the opponents play well, they also know how to win.
“We are focused and want to be at our best to try to win the game. There are no easy games and that is very clear.
“We have won six games because the players had an exceptional attitude and commitment. We know that, individually, we have players at a different level than other teams – but that doesn’t mean the games are easy.”
Treino no palco de amanhã ✅ Olhos postos na qualificação para o #EURO2024! ????????️ #VesteABandeira pic.twitter.com/p1h78umUbu
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) October 12, 2023
1 hour 40 mins to KO: Slovakia have kept six clean sheets in their last nine European Qualifiers, so they should be well placed to provide resistance against one of the form teams of the campaign this evening.
“We always want to play so that we don’t focus on the opponents,” manager Francesco Calzona said in the build-up. “We have our game principles – we always want to stick to them.
2 hours to KO: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of this evening’s European qualifier between Portugal and Slovakia, when the Selecao have their first chance to secure their place at the finals.
The hosts have won their last eight Euro qualifying matches without conceding a goal – their longest winning sequence in qualifying history. But Slovakia’s only defeat in their last nine qualifiers was their 1-0 defeat to Portugal during the current campaign, and the visitors can give their own hopes of reaching Germany a huge boost with a positive result.
We’ll have team news coming up and live updates throughout the evening!
Portugal vs Slovakia lineups, team news
Porto captain Pepe and Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes were out for Portugal, as were Bayern Munich’s Raphael Guerreiro and Braga winger Ricardo Horta, who both left the national team camp after being assessed.
Benfica midfielder Joao Neves joined the squad for the first time.
Portugal lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Diogo Costa (GK) – Dalot, Antonio Silva, Ruben Dias, Cancelo – Bernardo Silva, Palhinha, Bruno Fernandes – Leao, Goncalo Ramos, Ronaldo
Right-winger Lukas Haraslin was substituted with a muscle injury he sustained while playing for Sparta Prague on Sunday but was not replaced in Slovakia’s squad. Haraslin was not fit for the matchday squad.
At 17 years old, Feyenoord winger Leo Sauer is the youngest player to have been called up for Slovakia since the country gained independence in 1993.
Slovakia lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Dubravka (GK) – Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko – Duda, Lobotka, Kucka – Mak, Bozenik, Schranz
MORE: Euro 2024 qualifying permutations: Who needs what to go through?
Portugal vs Slovakia live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this European qualifier across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | — | Fubo, ViX |
| Canada | — | |
| UK | — | Viaplay |
| Australia | — | |
| India | — | Sony LIV, JioTV |
| Hong Kong | — | — |
| Malaysia | Astro SuperSport 3 | Astro Go, sooka |
| Singapore | — | — |
| New Zealand | — | — |
USA: This game is available for streaming via Fubo and in Spanish through ViX.
Canada: DAZN has the action for fans in Canada.
Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match .
UK: This match will be available on Viaplay.
