Portugal 1-0 Azerbaijan LIVE RESULT: Cristiano Ronaldo fails to close on goal record as Portuguese limp past minnows
PORTUGAL began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a win that will not live long in the memory
Cristiano Ronaldo failed to move closer to Ali Daei's all-time international record of 109 goals, as an own goal from Azerbaijan captain Maksim Medvedev proved the only difference between the teams.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
26 A long shot made by Silva which is then kicked out of game, resulting in a corner kick and a missed goal.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
25 Portugal dominating the right flank but then kicked out of play.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
23 Another header from Ronaldo saved again by Magomedaliyev.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
22 Portugal continuing to apply pressure but a long shot results in a missed goal from Ronaldo, totalling 6 missed attempts on goal.
Azerbaijan's defence looking to be the saving grace of their game so far.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
20 Portugal continuing to dominate possession but struggling to get through Azerbaijan's impressive ten man strong defence.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
19 Medical Attending to Magomedaliyev but he makes a fantastic recovery and manages to continue playing.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
17 Moutinho takes a short corner trying to figure out a way round the heavy defence of Azerbaijan. Resulting in a missed shot from Duarte catching GK's face with the end of his boot.
What a missed opportunity to put Portugal up!
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
16 Ronaldo called offside resulting in free kick taken by Madomedaliyev.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
14 Corner for Portugal resulting a failed cross.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
Neves, Portugal's midfielder, recovers the ball just outside Azerbaijan's box and forced Magomedaliyev to make a difficult save.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
11 A missed header from Silva results in an Azerbaijan goal kick.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
12 Silva misses target
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
10 Pressure on the box from Portugal and a missed shot. Magomedaliyev making some absolutely fantastic saves from inside and outside the box.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
7 FREE KICK
Challenge on Neves results in a free kick taken by Moutinho.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
6 As expected Portugal are dominating Azerbaijan's midfield but however pressure is being applied keeping them away from scoring.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
4 Shot from Bernardo Silva but an impressive block form Magomedaliyev.
PORTUGAL 0 – 0 AZERBAIJAN
4 Two systems visible here - Azerbaijan's 4-4-2 against Portugal's 4-3-3
PORTUGAL 0 - 0 AZERBAIJAN
2 Portugal controlling most of play in the first few minutes within their own half.
COIN TOSS
After coin toss Azerbaijan get the first pass back.
5 MINUTES TO KICK OFF!!
AZERBAIJAN LINEUP
12 Magomedaliyev (GK); 3 Ezer Salahli; 5 Medvedev; 6 Mustafayev; 8 Makhmudov; 9 Ghorbani; 10 Emreli; 13 Hüseynov; 14 Badalov; 15 Hüseynov; 18 Krivotsyuk
PORTUGAL LINEUP
Lineup is as expected with Ronaldo leading the team as Captain.
The Manchester City Premier League midfielder Bernardo Silva is also starting but Diogo Jota is not. The Liverpool forward will begin the game on the bench.
PORTUGAL LINEUP
12 Anthony Lopes (GK); 3 Domingos Duarte; 4 Rúben Dias; 5 Nuno Mendes; 7 Cristiano Ronaldo; 8 Joao Moutinho; 9 André Silva; 10 Bernardo Silva; 18 Rúben Neves; 19 Pedro Neto; 20 Joao Cancela
WHY TURIN?
Portugal were granted permission to switch their World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan to Italy to ensure their Premier League stars would be available.
With travel between Portugal and the UK currently banned due to covid-19, UK-based players such as Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva would face hotel quarantine on their return, ruling them out of club fixtures.
Originally scheduled to take place in Lisbon, it was moved to the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Cristiano Ronaldo's home ground.
AZERBAIJAN STATS
Azerbaijan have played out three consecutive 0-0 draws with Cyprus, Montenegro and Luxembourg in their final Nations League games.
Since 1991 Azerbaijan have tried and failed six times to qualify for the World Cup finals and given the calibre of the opponents they're yet to face in UEFA Group A, a qualification is not looking likely.
Head coach Gianni De Biasi would certainly be satisfied with even another goalless result against the reigning European and Nations League champions this week.