Scotland look to end losing run as Ronaldo starts for Portugal – follow live

So just the one change from Steve Clarke as he sticks with a relatively settled side. Che Adams replaces Lyndon Dykes up top.

Scotland XI: Gordon; Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson; Gilmour, McLean; Doak, McTominay, Christie; Adams

Portugal XI: Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Silva, Mendes; Palhinha, Fernandes, Vitinha; Jota, Ronaldo, Conceicao

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in Scotland for the first time since 2008, in his first appearance at Hampden Park. The 39-year-old faced Celtic in Glasgow twice with Manchester United (United did not win either game).

Ronaldo scored his 133rd international goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Poland and scored a late winner against Scotland in the return fixture last month.

12 October (A): 1-2 vs Croatia (Nations League)

8 September (A): 1-2 vs Portugal (Nations League)

5 September (H): 2-3 vs Poland (Nations League)

23 June: 0-1 vs Hungary (Euro 2024)

19 June: 1-1 vs Switzerland (Euro 2024)

14 June: 1-5 vs Germany (Euro 2024)

19 November (H): 3-3 vs Norway (Euro qualifying)

16 November (A): 2-2 vs Georgia (Euro qualifying)

12 October (A): 0-2 vs Spain (Euro qualifying)

Ryan Christie shot the disciplined visitors ahead in the 33rd minute from a tight angle before striker Igor Matanovic levelled three minutes later.

Steve Clarke’s side came under increasing pressure after the break and eventually succumbed in the 70th minute of the League A Group 1 encounter at Stadion Maksimir when Andrej Kramaric headed the home side in front.

However, in a dramatic finale, Adams, who replaced Lyndon Dykes after the Scots fell behind, had the ball in the net in the fifth minute of added time, only for VAR to disallow the effort for offside, dealing another blow to the visitors.

“The disappointment is massive. You get that high at the end when you think you have a deserved draw and that is taken away by VAR,” Clarke said.

“The performance was really good. I thought we were brave with the ball. We tried to play, tried to create chances. On another night we would’ve got what we deserved.

“A full squad fit and healthy would be a help.”

A Portugal win would mean Scotland – with just one victory in their last 15 matches – have lost five in a row for the first time in their history, but Roberto Martinez has no doubt that Steve Clarke can turn things round in the longer term.

“Absolutely, I have no doubts,” he said. “It is a difficult press conference for me to show sympathy when tomorrow I want to win the game. But Steve Clarke is building something very special.

“He already achieved a very successful team, qualified for the European Championship, and now it feels that it is almost a new cycle. And the results will come if the performances stay at this level.”

Roberto Martinez has no worries about pitching 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo into his second away match in the space of 72 hours when Portugal face Scotland at Hampden on Tuesday.

The Al-Nassr forward scored his 133rd international goal in Saturday evening’s 3-1 Nations League win over Poland in Warsaw – a match in which he played just over an hour.

Despite Ronaldo being less than four months shy of his 40th birthday, Martinez is comfortable with unleashing him for what will be the first Hampden outing of his distinguished career.

“I think the age of a player doesn’t come into play,” said Portugal boss Martinez. “Ronaldo doesn’t work as a 39-year-old player. He doesn’t play certainly as a 39-year-old player. I think we are assessing every player and how they feel. Cristiano has been working really well in this camp.

“I have no doubt that Cristiano after 60 minutes (on Saturday) can be involved in the second game. I don’t know if he can start or if he can finish the game, but he can certainly be involved as he showed in the last camp (when starting the first game and then coming on in the second).”

Speaking on Monday ahead of the clash against Cristiano Ronaldo and the Selecao, Clarke said Scotland’s players deserved more respect after reaching back-to-back major European Championships

“I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t believe in this group of players,” Clarke said.

“After 20 years in the international wilderness, this group of players have been to two major tournaments. They’ve got promotion to this top level of the Nations League, so I don’t understand why people would be doubting about this group of players.

“It’s a tough moment, there’s no doubt about it, but we believe in ourselves.

“They understand that we’re playing difficult opponents. They understand also that the squad could be stronger, everyone knows that. All these things are there to be seen.

“I don’t speak about it too much because I feel it’s disrespectful to the boys that are in the squad. We have to concentrate on who we have, who we have here. We have to go out against Portugal.

“We know we have to be very good at everything we do in the game. Hopefully we can get the result that might just change the whole mood about the place.”

Steve Clarke believes Scotland can avoid losing five games in a row for the first time in their history and end their winless run when they host Portugal at Hampden on Tuesday night.

A dire run has seen the Scots win just one of their last 15 matches, going nine in a row without victory and with four defeats on the spin since the poor displays at Euro 2024.

That spell includes three defeat in the Nations League, leaving Clarke’s side bottom of their group and facing the prospect of a swift relegation back to the second tier.

There have been extenuating circumstances to Scotland’s poor form, including a lengthy injury list and a tough series of games against high-class opposition in League A.

Despite that, Clarke’s side have been competitive in all three of their Nations League games against Poland, Portugal and Croatia – with only one goal to separate the sides in each.

Late misfortune has also been a theme, with late goals conceded against Poland and Portugal before Che Adams had a stoppage-time equaliser ruled out in the 2-1 defeat to Croatia in Zagreb.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has no new injury worries either after his side’s straightforward win over Poland, so all that remains to be seen is whether he will rotate.

Diogo Jota and Joao Felix could come in for Rafa Leao and Pedro Neto on the wings, while PSG’s Joao Neves could replace his namesake Ruben in midfield, as could Vitinha.