Euro 2020 Qualifiers | Luxembourg 0-2 Portugal: 3 Talking Points 

On a wet and patchy Stade Josy Barthel in Luxembourg, Portugal did just enough to edge out the hosts, with a first-half goal from Bruno Fernandes and a late tap-in from Cristiano Ronaldo ensured the visitors wrapped up 2019 with maximum points.

In front of just over 8,000 fans, Luxembourg gave their best in a bid to avoid an embarrassing scoreline and they held their more illustrious opponents at bay for most of the match and might have come away with something but for a lack of composure in the final third.

The fixture wraps up proceedings from Group B of Euro 2020 Qualification and here, we highlight three talking points from the fixture.

#3 Portugal secure qualification for Euro 2020

Portugal have secured qualification for Euro 2020

Portugal are defending European champions, having defeated France on their own perch three years ago to secure their first international trophy.

However, their qualification series got off to a poor start with two consecutive draws in their opening fixtures and their subsequent absence due to their participation in the semifinal of the Nations League leaving them playing catchup.

They responded in some style and won their next three matches consecutively to put them right back into the thick of things, although their defeat to Ukraine on matchday 6 secured qualification for the East Europeans and left Serbia and Portugal battling it out for the last automatic qualification spot from the group.

The Iberian nation came into the fixture with Luxembourg a point clear of Serbia and knowing only needed to match Serbia's result to secure their spot in the continental showpiece next year.

Although they had a fail-safe in the form of a play-off by virtue of finishing top of their Nations League group, Portugal would have sought to avoid that route by going all out for victory.

While they might have struggled at times, Portugal ultimately did enough for all three points, ensuring that the champions would be on hand to defend their continental title.

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#2 Bernardo Silva shows his class

Silva showed his class

Bernardo Silva has grown from strength to strength over the last few years and has been an integral part of the Manchester City behemoth that has decimated all before them in the Premier League.

He has also shone on the international scene and there was a lot of furor generated when Cristiano Ronaldo was named Portugal Player of the Year, despite Bernardo Silva having been named Player of the Tournament in the UEFA Nations League.

The 25-year-old had starred in the 6-0 demolition of Lithuania last time out and he brought his A-game to the fore again in the clash with Luxembourg.

Despite playing on a soggy pitch and watching teammates such as Danilo and Cristiano Ronaldo struggle around him, Bernardo Silva still shone like a million stars.

It was his delightful through-ball to Bruno Fernandez in the 39th minute that enabled the Sporting Lisbon man send Portugal into the lead when it seemed like the game was destined to end goalless at the break.

The second goal also came through Silva's creativity, as he once again teed Diego Jota up in the 86th minute whose miskick was bundled into the net by Cristiano Ronaldo to make sure of the result.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo made to wait to bag his century

Ronaldo is one goal away from a century for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the second-highest goalscorer in international football and he came into the game against Luxembourg on 98 goals, just 12 short of the mark set by the great Ali Daei of Iran.

He would have been looking to get closer to Daei and more poignantly become only the second man in history to attain the 100-goal mark in international football.

A brace would have been enough for the Juventus man to achieve the feat and given that he scored a hat-trick three days ago against Lithuania, few would have bet against him doing so, with the difference in quality between Luxembourg and Portugal increasing the possibility.

However, the hosts proved to be a tougher nut to crack than expected and Ronaldo was uncharacteristically off-colour and struggled to make a genuine impact on the match.

When he did get his goal in the 85th minute, it came in an unspectacular fashion, with Ronaldo having to literally snatch the goal off Diogo Jota from the goal line.

The goal took him to 99 international goals for Portugal and while he would undoubtedly cross the 100-goal mark as well as break Daei's record, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner would have to wait until next year to achieve the feats.