England head to Portugal to kick off their Nations League campaign / Visionhaus / Getty Image

Portugal Women vs England Women: Match Preview, Predictions, and Lineups

Portugal Women vs England Women: Nations League Clash Set for Exciting Battle

England Women will take on Portugal Women in an eagerly anticipated UEFA Nations League encounter on Friday evening. The match, held at Portimao Estadio, marks the opening fixture of the 2025 Nations League group stage for both teams. With England missing key players like Georgia Stanway, Alex Greenwood, and Lauren Hemp, they will need to overcome these absences to secure a crucial victory.

Portugal, playing on home soil, will aim to capitalize on their defensive strengths and frustrate the Lionesses. With both teams eager to start their campaigns on a positive note, this match promises an intense battle.

Portugal Women vs England Women: Match Details

Location: Portimao, Portugal
Stadium: Portimao Estadio
Date: Friday, 21 February
Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT / 20:45 CET / 14:45 ET
Referee: Ivana Projkovska (MKD)

Head-to-Head Record: Portugal Women vs England Women

Portugal Wins: 0
England Wins: 2
Draws: 1
Last Meeting: England 0-0 Portugal (1 July 2023) – International Friendly

England have historically had the upper hand in this fixture, but Portugal’s improving performances suggest they could provide a stern challenge.

Current Form: Portugal Women vs England Women

Portugal Women’s Recent Matches

Czech Republic 1-2 Portugal – 03/12/24
Portugal 1-1 Czech Republic – 29/11/24
Portugal 4-0 Azerbaijan – 29/10/24
Azerbaijan 1-4 Portugal – 25/10/24
Portugal 3-1 Malta – 16/07/24

England Women’s Recent Matches

England 1-0 Switzerland – 03/12/24
England 0-0 United States – 30/11/24
England 2-1 South Africa – 29/10/24
England 3-4 Germany – 25/10/24
Sweden 0-0 England – 16/07/24

Both teams enter the match with steady form, but England’s defensive solidity could be tested given their injuries.

How to Watch Portugal Women vs England Women on TV

UK Broadcast Details

TV Channels & Streaming: ITV1, ITVX

Fans in the UK can catch all the action live on ITV1 or stream it via ITVX.

Portugal Women: Team News and Predicted Lineup

Portugal Women’s Team News

Lucia Alves returns to the Portugal squad / Gualter Fatia/GettyImages

Benfica defender Lucia Alves returns to the squad after recovering from a knee injury. With 11 matches under her belt since her return, she will be a crucial defensive asset for Portugal. Key players like Barcelona’s Kika Nazareth and Sporting CP’s Diana Silva are also included in Francisco Neto’s squad.

Atletico Madrid’s Tatiana Pinto and goalkeeper Ines Pereira have made the cut, and Portugal will rely on their experience to challenge England.

Portugal Women’s Predicted Lineup (3-4-3)

Pereira; Gomes, C. Costa, Seica; Alves, Jacinto, Pinto, Marchao; D. Silva, Nazareth, Capeta.

Portugal’s formation will likely focus on defensive resilience and quick counter-attacks through their attacking trio.

England Women: Team News and Predicted Lineup

England Women’s Team News

Georgia Stanway will be a big miss for England over the coming months / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages

Chelsea’s Niamh Charles and Lauren James return to the squad, providing a much-needed boost for England. Brighton’s Nikita Parris receives her first call-up since November 2022, while Ella Toone is back after missing the last camp.

However, Sarina Wiegman’s squad is severely weakened by the absences of Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp, and Alex Greenwood. Stanway’s knee injury raises concerns ahead of Euro 2025, and additional setbacks came with the withdrawals of Lotte Wubben-Moy and Beth Mead before the squad’s departure.

Aston Villa’s Lucy Parker and Arsenal’s Chloe Kelly have been called up as replacements.

England Women’s Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Earps; Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Charles; Walsh, Toone; Naz, Clinton, James; Russo.

England will rely on their attacking strength to unlock Portugal’s defensive setup, with Russo expected to lead the line.

Portugal Women vs England Women: Score Prediction

England enter the match as favorites, given their superior squad depth and international pedigree. However, Portugal have shown defensive resilience, evident in their 0-0 draw against England before the 2023 World Cup.

The Lionesses must remain patient in possession and capitalize on their attacking quality to break down Portugal’s well-organized defense. Despite their injury issues, England should have enough firepower to secure a hard-fought victory.