World champions Spain began their Euro 2025 marketing campaign in fashion as they brushed Portugal apart with a dominant 5-0 win.
There was a very sombre environment contained in the stadium, lower than 24 hours after the dying of Portugal males’s worldwide Diogo Jota – and his brother Andre Silva – in Zamora, north western Spain.
However any hope of the Portuguese forging a profitable tribute in Bern was over by half-time, after two objectives from Esther Gonzalez and one every from Vicky Lopez and Alexia Putellas made it 4-0 on the break.
Cristina Martin-Prieto added a fifth with one of many closing actions of the match to assist her nation set the file for his or her biggest-ever win at a Ladies’s European Championship, bettering the 4-1 win over Finland in July 2022.
A minute’s silence in reminiscence of Liverpool and Portugal ahead Diogo Jota was noticed earlier than kick-off
A fan holds an indication with the Portuguese phrase “Everlasting” in reminiscence of Portuguese worldwide footballer Diogo Jota
With underneath seven minutes on the clock, Spain had set the tone – and confirmed why they’re favourites for the event.
Spain gamers rejoice after Esther Gonzalez scored the opening purpose in opposition to Portugal at Euro 2025
Gonzalez’s improvised end gave them the dream begin after 88 seconds, earlier than 18-year-old Lopez tapped a low ball from Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey, with the Portugal defence bypassed with ease.
The probabilities continued to circulation for Spain, however the third evaded them till simply earlier than the break. When it got here, it was wonderful. Caldentey’s ball from deep discovered Putellas, who managed expertly, shifted her weight and completed with aplomb.
Vicky Lopez (high) scored Spain’s second
There was even time for a fourth earlier than the break, when Gonzalez tapped her second in on the road after Claudia Pina’s looping cross dropped kindly for her.
Expectation for the second half was excessive, given how eventful the primary had been, however, to Portugal’s credit score, they held their opponents at bay for lengthy intervals. The spotlight had been the introduction of double Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who returned to a heat ovation following remedy for viral meningitis.
However there was time for Spain so as to add the fifth that they had craved within the 93rd minute, when Martin-Prieto bought on the top of Salma Paralluelo’s inch-perfect cross and powered in a header.
