On a night when a much-maligned Manchester United player secured the win, another who struggled across the Pennines at Leeds made quite the contribution of his own.
And with a starting spot very much up for grabs under a manager taking charge of the national team for only the third time, those under the most immediate pressure picked a pretty good time to remind Brian Riemer of their qualities.
Rasmus Hojlund was the game’s only goalscorer as Denmark defeated Portugal 1-0 in Thursday’s UEFA Nations League play-off.
Riemer, perhaps unsurprisingly, opted to start with Mika Biereth up top, the former Arsenal starlet has a scoring 11 Ligue 1 goals in nine starts for Monaco. In contrast, Rasmus Hojlund needed a sharp finish against Leicester City last Sunday to end a barren run of 22 games in a Man United shirt. Now, the floodgates appear to have opened.
At the other end of the pitch, meanwhile, Leeds United’s forgotten man Rasmus Kristensen did his own chances no harm on a day where those under pressure to step up and perform did exactly that.
The Eintracht Frankfurt loanee missed both of Riemer’s first games in charge back in November due to injury. Only four of his 25 caps, meanwhile, have come since the beginning of 2024.
Yet, days after Rasmus Kristensen opened his Bundesliga account, he took fine Frankfurt form onto the international stage while keeping Portugal forward AC Milan at arms’ length. Hojlund was not the only Denmark player who made a good early impression on the new man in the dugout.
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Leeds United loanee Rasmus Kristensen outshines Rafael Leao as Denmark beat Portugal
Kristensen is more renowned for the attacking side of his game. This, however, required a very different sort of performance. A more defensive, resilient one, in the face of AC Milan’s jet-heeled, silky-smooth Leao.
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Not only did Kristensen complete the joint most tackles of any Denmark player – four – he also used the ball effectively and calmly while ensuring his pass completion rate remained at 92 per cent.
Former Denmark defender Morten Bruun was certainly impressed.
“If he keeps playing like this, the right-back spot belongs to him,” Bruun tells TV2 while handing Kristensen a match rating of 8/10. “He faced a tough opponent in Rafael Leao, but the Dane won the duel. He could see that when his direct opponent was substituted.”
Leao was labelled ‘one of the best players in the world’ by Portugal boss Roberto Martinez. Milan president Paolo Scaroni, meanwhile, indicated back in 2024 that it would take a bid of £125 million to convince him to cash in.
Yet, Kristensen made relatively light work of a man hauled off on the 76th minute mark at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium.
“Disciplined and physical,” was Campo’s assessment, Kristensen earning an 8/10 from them too. “He had his problems with Leao when the Portuguese accelerated his quick feet. But Rasmus managed to be above him in most cases and got the upper hand.
“Great match.
“It was entertainment in itself to watch [Kristensen] and Rafael Leao boxing on the right side of the field,” Bold adds, neither landing a knockout blow but the Leeds loanee winning on points.
“Although the AC Milan star is a real handful, the Danish full-back came out of it approved in several situations.”
Kristensen impresses in a duel with PSG’s Nuno Mendes
Bold claim that Kristensen also got the better of Nuno Mendes when the Paris Saint-Germain flyer – probably the best left-back in the world right now – made one of his trademark lung-busting runs down the flank.
Kristensen is still expected to leave Leeds permanently in the summer, however, with Frankfurt hoping to agree a knockdown fee for a man who arrived at Elland Road from Red Bull Salzburg to the tune of £10 million.
Frankfurt director Timmo Hardung has been convinced enough by Kristensen to keep him for the long-term at the Commerzbank Arena.
“We’re trying,” Hardung said when asked about the prospect of keeping Rasmus Kristensen at the Commerzbank Arena. “We have him here until June 30th and we know about his quality.
“It’s no secret he’s become a big factor off the pitch too. He’s just a good guy who fits in very well with us in the team and the club.
“Let’s work on it. We still have until June 30th at least. We’ll definitely have his qualities [until] then.”