Scotland secured their first point of the 2024-25 Nations League with a gritty 0-0 draw against Portugal at Hampden Park. The match marked Cristiano Ronaldo’s 200th start for his national team, but it was a frustrating night for the star and his teammates, as clear chances were few and far between.
Steve Clarke’s side showed determination despite managing only three shots in the game. The best opportunity fell to Portugal, with Craig Gordon pulling off a crucial save in the 87th minute to deny Bruno Fernandes from close range after a Rafael Leao cutback.
The draw keeps Scotland at the bottom of Group A1, three points behind third-placed Poland, whom they will face in November. Portugal, sitting atop the group with 10 points, need just one win from their final two matches to advance to the quarter-finals. They maintained a three-point lead over second-placed Croatia, who played to a 3-3 draw with Poland.
Ronaldo’s milestone outing came 21 years after his first start for Portugal, but the Selecao’s recent struggles in front of goal continued, with just four goals in their last seven games under coach Roberto Martinez. Despite completing 715 passes—their highest tally this campaign—Portugal registered only 14 attempts, their lowest in the competition so far, ending with an expected goals (xG) of 1.52.
Scotland’s clean sheet against a higher-ranked opponent was their first since a 2-0 win over Spain in 2023. However, their winless streak in competitive matches extended to 10 games (D4, L6), the longest in the team’s history.
