Spain beat Portugal 5-0 in Bern to announce their arrival at Euro 2025 in some style.
A brace from Esther González, combined with goals from Vicky López and Alexia Putellas, had put the result well beyond doubt by half time. Cristina Martín-Prieto’s header at the death applied a layer of gloss to a majestic display. That goal sealed Spain‘s biggest ever win at a major tournament and Portugal‘s joint biggest ever defeat at one.
The Lineups:
ESP: Nanclares; Carmona, Aleixandri, Méndez, Batlle; Putellas, Guijarro, López; Pina, González, Mariona
POR: Pereira; F. Pinto, Costa, Gomes, Amado; T. Pinto, Jacinto, Fonseca, Norton, J. Silva; D. Silva
The Action:
It didn’t take long for Spain to make their mark on the competition. Just 90 seconds were on the clock when Olga Carmona’s ball over the top perplexed Portugal’s attempts at an offside line. With Diana Gomes dropping deep too early, Esther González was clear to race onto the bouncing ball, she outmuscled Tatiana Pinto and flicked the ball past Inês Pereira.
Five minutes later and Pereira would picking the ball out of her net once again. Mariona Caldentey’s low cross into the box caught Portugal’s back five awfully flat-footed, and gifted 18-year old Vicky López the simplest of opportunities to slide in at the back post and convert. And with that touch, López became the youngest player ever to score at the European Championships.
It was a torrid first 45 for Portugal, with the metronomic passing of Putellas, Pina and Mariona carving A Selecção das Quinas open at will. Portugal’s attempts to play out were constantly hampered by the Spanish high press. What few raids they did mange on the counter through Jéssica and Diana Silva were easily snuffed out by Spain’s underworked, makeshift backline.
Portugal did well to stem the flow of Spanish goals, but five minutes before the half time bell, they collapsed. A magnificent ball from Mariona found Putellas clear in the box. The Spanish captain cut inside Gomes with ease, before slamming home her first tournament goal since Euro 2013.
Two minutes later and it was all but over. Clàudia Pina’s dinked cross from the byline ricocheted off the far post and landed at González’s feet, who simply nudged the ball into the vacant net.
The second half became a formality. With the game won, Spain wound down the intensity and cruised to the finish line. Portugal had a few set piece scrambles but nothing more, their best moment came when Ana Capeta caught the Spanish defence in transition during a clear-out, but she couldn’t keep her effort on target.
One of the biggest cheers of the night came on 80 minutes, as Aitana Bonmatí returned to the pitch after recovering from a bout of viral meningitis. Fans could have been forgiven for having left early, with Spain’s win long assured. However, those that remained were rewarded with one final flourish, as substitute Cristina Martín-Prieto leapt high into the air to meet Salma Paralluelo’s cross and thump her header home with practically the final touch of the match.
Five star Spain lay down the gauntlet
The mantle of tournament favourites can weigh heavily upon the shoulders of teams at the start of any tournament. However no such nerves were apparent here; this was Spain at their scintillating best. Fast, accurate passing, pulling the Portugal defence apart with ease. It was 4-0 at halftime, but it so easily could have been more. Vicky López already looks to be a strong contender for Young Player of the Tournament, her ability to combine with Putellas and Pina in the attack was a joy to watch. The Barcelona connections were clear to see throughout, both current and former.
Mariona may have departed for Arsenal, but the chemistry she possesses with her former teammates remains as potent as ever. Two wonderful assists from the Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Season put goals on a plate for López and Putellas, highlighting the talent that has already put her in strong contention for the Ballon D’Or. Having already lifted the Champions League with her new club, the Mallorcan will be hoping for a second dose of European success this summer.
Tougher tests await for Spain. Portugal practically rolled out the welcome mat for the world champions in the first half, where other teams will not be so charitable. Nevertheless it is a strong start for La Roja, but the true tests of their EURO credentials will come against teams who are able to starve them of the stage they love to perform upon.
Outclassed Portugal on the brink
The gulf between Portugal and their opponents was known well before Spain tore them to shreds. They are a team at a much earlier stage of their development, so the result was not a surprise. Concern exists, however, with the nature of the score line. In the UEFA Nations League, Portugal suffered 4-2 and 7-1 defeats to Spain, and it is clear based on this evidence that nothing has been learnt from those comprehensive defeats.
Portugal’s attempts to play out from the back were admirable, but hopelessly naïve. They simply lacked the speed and accurate execution necessary to bypass Spain’s intense press. Repeated turnovers of possession starved Portugal of any momentum, and left Jéssica and Diana Silva woefully isolated up the pitch, and allowed to Spain to continue to turn the screw.
Despite opting for a back five, there was no safety to be found in numbers. A lack of engagement with the opposition gifted Spain all the time and space they required to execute their trademark philosophy at their own pace. Diana Gomes had a torrid night, culpable for leaving the barn door wide open for González to storm through in the second minute, and unable to handle Putellas’ passing and movement throughout. This was Portugal’s hardest test of the group, and they failed badly. Outplayed, out-thought, with no points on the board and a wretched goal difference around their neck, they are close to being out of the EUROs altogether.
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