On the evening of September 8th, at Tehelné Pole in Bratislava, Cristiano Ronaldo played the full match for Portugal. Despite his presence, Ronaldo’s performance seemed less influential than usual.

High Ball Duels: Ronaldo engaged in two high ball disputes during the match, showcasing his aerial ability.

Passing: Surprisingly, Ronaldo did not register a single pass throughout the game, which is uncommon for an outfield player.

Shots: He managed to take six shots during the match, more than any other player on both teams. However, his shooting was not as precise as usual, with three shots on target and three off target, failing to find the back of the net.

Missed Opportunity: Ronaldo’s best chance came in the 76th minute following a favorable pass from Fernandes. Unfortunately, he couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity.

Yellow Card: In the 62nd minute, Ronaldo received a yellow card after a collision with the home goalkeeper, Martin Dubravka. This marks his third yellow card in the first five matches of Euro 2024 qualifying, leading to his suspension for the next match against Luxembourg on September 11.

Portugal, currently ranked 9th in the FIFA rankings, faced some difficulties against the 47th-ranked Slovakia. Despite dominating possession and launching more attacks, Portugal failed to pose a significant threat to their opponent. Slovakia, on the other hand, pressed high and disrupted Portugal’s rhythm, causing them to lose the ball frequently.

In the 42nd minute, Slovakia came close to opening the scoring but missed the target. Portugal, however, capitalized on their opportunity immediately after. Bruno Fernandes, celebrating his 29th birthday, scored a low-angle shot following a pass from Bernardo Silva.

Slovakia increased their attacking efforts after Portugal’s goal, putting the visitors on the defensive. The match remained open in the last 30 minutes, with both teams seeking to either extend the lead or equalize. In the end, Portugal successfully defended their 1-0 lead, securing their fifth consecutive victory in Group J of Euro 2024 qualifying, maintaining their position at the top with 15 points. Slovakia sits in second place with 10 points, while Luxembourg also has 10 points but lags behind on goal difference.