Football is rarely this stressful. Honestly, if you watched the Portugal vs Denmark UEFA Nations League quarter-final in March 2025, you probably need a spa day. It was a rollercoaster. It was messy. It was, for about eighty minutes, a total disaster for Portugal.
But then, it wasn't.
Most people expected Roberto Martinez's side to steamroll the Danes. After all, Portugal had finished top of Group A1 with 14 points, looking like world-beaters. Denmark, meanwhile, had scraped through Group A4 behind Spain. But international football doesn't care about your group stage resume. When the first leg kicked off at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, the script flipped immediately.
The Copenhagen Reality Check
Denmark won the first leg 1-0. It wasn't a fluke. Rasmus Højlund, the Manchester United striker who seems to thrive on pure chaos, bagged the winner in the 78th minute. Portugal looked sluggish. They had the possession—because they always do—but they lacked that "bite."
Brian Riemer, in his first big test as the Danish manager, set up a defensive masterclass. Kasper Schmeichel, at 38, looked like he was twenty again. He was everywhere. By the time the whistle blew in Copenhagen, Portugal fans were genuinely worried. They were staring down the barrel of an embarrassing exit.
Portugal vs Denmark UEFA Nations League: The Second Leg Madness
Fast forward three days. The Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon is vibrating. The task is simple but heavy: Portugal needs to win by two to advance, or one to force extra time.
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It started like a dream and turned into a nightmare in record time. Just five minutes in, Portugal gets a penalty. The stadium is ready to erupt. Cristiano Ronaldo steps up—the man with 200+ caps and more goals than some entire leagues. And he misses. Well, Schmeichel saves it. The silence in the stadium was heavy. You could almost hear the collective "not again" from the fans.
Things got weirder. In the 38th minute, Portugal took the lead via an own goal from Joachim Andersen. A bit lucky? Sure. But they’ll take it. At half-time, it’s 1-0 on the night, 1-1 on aggregate.
Why the Second Half Changed Everything
The second half was basically a fever dream.
- 56th minute: Rasmus Kristensen scores for Denmark. Suddenly, the Danes lead 2-1 on aggregate.
- 72nd minute: Ronaldo finally makes amends. Bruno Fernandes hits a thunderbolt that rattles the post, and Ronaldo is there for the rebound. 2-2 aggregate.
- 76th minute: Christian Eriksen—because it had to be him—scores from close range. Denmark is back in the lead. 3-2 aggregate.
Lisbon was panicking. You could see it on the players' faces. Roberto Martinez looked like he was about to implode on the touchline. He made a move that felt like a roll of the dice: he brought on Francisco Trincão.
Trincão changed his life that night. In the 86th minute, he connects with a cross from Nuno Mendes and fires it home. 3-2 on the night. 3-3 on aggregate. We are going to extra time.
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The Extra Time Surge
When a game goes to extra time after that much drama, the team with the momentum usually swallows the other. That’s exactly what happened. Denmark looked gassed. They had spent 90 minutes chasing ghosts and defending for their lives.
Trincão struck again in the 91st minute. Suddenly, for the first time in the entire tie, Portugal was actually leading on aggregate. The relief was palpable. Denmark tried to push forward, but they left gaps the size of the Atlantic. In the 115th minute, Gonçalo Ramos—who had come on for a tired Ronaldo—put the final nail in the coffin.
Final Score: Portugal 5-2 Denmark (5-3 on aggregate).
It was the highest-scoring game in the knockout stages of the 2024-25 tournament. It also proved that while Portugal’s "Golden Generation" is aging, their bench is deep enough to survive a scare.
Tactical Takeaways from the Tie
Brian Riemer almost pulled off the heist of the century. His 4-3-3 was incredibly compact in Copenhagen, making Rafael Leão and Bernardo Silva look ordinary. However, the depth of the Portuguese squad eventually won out.
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Martinez’s willingness to sub off Ronaldo in the 94th minute was a "big manager" move. Usually, managers are terrified to take CR7 off in a do-or-die game. But Ramos brought a pressing intensity that Denmark simply couldn't handle in the dying minutes.
Portugal went on to win the whole thing, beating Spain in the final on penalties in Munich. But if you ask any Portuguese fan which game was the real test, they won’t say the final. They’ll tell you about that rainy night in Lisbon where Denmark almost broke their hearts.
Key Stats from the Match:
- Possession: Portugal 62% - Denmark 38%
- Total Shots: Portugal 22 - Denmark 11
- Saves: Kasper Schmeichel (8) - Diogo Costa (4)
- Distance Covered: Morten Hjulmand led all players with 14.2km.
If you’re looking to analyze this matchup for future tournaments, keep an eye on the wing-back battles. Nuno Mendes was the secret MVP of the second leg, providing the width that eventually cracked the Danish shell. Denmark, despite the loss, proved they are no longer just "dark horses"—they are a legitimate Tier 1 threat that can go toe-to-toe with the world's best.
For your next steps, look into the tactical shifts Denmark has made since this match, specifically how they've integrated younger talents like Patrick Dorgu into the starting XI. Also, check out the updated FIFA rankings, as this result moved Portugal into the top three globally heading into the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.