Spain, the pre-tournament favourites, kicked off their campaign for the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship in stunning fashion, securing a dominant 5-0 victory over Portugal. This marked their sixth consecutive triumph against Portugal, with each match resulting in a lopsided scoreline.
A somber tone filled the air in the Swiss capital as the tragic deaths of Portuguese men’s international Diogo Jota and his brother André cast a shadow over the match, observed with a minute’s silence before the whistle blew.
As the match commenced, Spain swiftly demonstrated their prowess as the reigning world champions and Europe’s top-ranked team, finding the back of the net within the first 90 seconds.
Olga Carmona delivered a pinpoint ball over the Portugal defence, expertly brought down by Esther González, who displayed exceptional poise to finish in an unconventional manner, marking her 34th international goal.
Just eight minutes into the match, La Roja increased their lead, with teenage midfielder Vicky López scoring at the far post after connecting with a low cross from Mariona Caldentey.
Portugal attempted to regroup defensively, but their efforts crumbled again in the 41st minute. A well-placed pass from Caldentey found Alexia Putellas, who showcased her elegance by sidestepping a defender and calmly finishing.
With this goal, Spain achieved the feat of scoring three or more goals in eight of their last ten matches. They soon added a fourth in unusual fashion.
Pina’s misdirected cross ricocheted off the post, falling perfectly for González, who had the simplest task of tapping in to round off her personal brace and send Spain into the break with a commanding 4-0 lead.
Following half-time, the Spanish side eased off, much to the relief of the Portuguese fans present. Captain Putellas came close to adding a fifth on several occasions, but their attacking verve from the first half waned in intensity.
Although Portugal strengthened their defensive line, they still struggled to create meaningful chances. A lapse in the Spanish defence left substitute Ana Capeta with an opportunity, but she failed to find the target.
The second half featured little in terms of goal-scoring opportunities, and just when it seemed Portugal might survive without suffering more damage, Spain netted a fifth in stoppage time.
Salma Paralluelo delivered a delightful cross from the left flank, which was met by Cristina Martin-Prieto’s header, making this La Roja’s biggest victory in Euros history.
This commanding result serves as a bold statement from the tournament favourites, while it places Portugal in a difficult position as they seek to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in Euros history, having yet to win in their last six encounters.
Watch a summary of the match here.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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