Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Moutinho has been in action for Portugal tonight.
The 34-year-old started against Azerbaijan in the nation’s final game of the international break in Baku.
It was a comfortable night’s work for Fernando Santos’ side, who ran out 3-0 winners, with goals coming from Bernardo Silva, Andre Silva and ex-Wolves man Diogo Jota.
Three more points for Portugal mean they’ve gone above Serbia to top Group A, at least for the time being. They’re in action against Republic of Ireland at 7.45pm.
Silva got the ball rolling with a fantastic volley from a tight angle after an exquisite ball from Bruno Fernandes.
Andre Silva then tapped home another ball from Fernandes.
Jota rounded things off with a header with around 15 minutes to go.
It was an efficient performance from Portugal, and Wolves star Moutinho – who wore the captain’s armband in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo – had a good game in midfield.
He played for 78 minutes and according to Sofascore statistics, he completed 61/66 passes (92%) and sprayed 5/7 long balls.
He will obviously have much harder opposition, but it’s good to see Moutinho putting in a solid performance.
On social media, he has been coming in for praise from fans who tuned in:
‘I can’t even understand who says that Moutinho doesn’t have a place in the national team, since he has characteristics that no other Portuguese midfielder has and he doesn’t know how to play badly’.
‘The success of this game was the midfield with Moutinho recovering balls and putting pressure on Azerbaijan’s exit’.
‘Moutinho’s game’.
‘Moutinho is perfect, real.
‘Moutinho you were amazing today.’
‘Moutinho doesn’t know how to play poorly, impressive’.
‘Joao Moutinho is a solid player’.