World champion Spain underpins his title ambitions with a strong performance. With opponent Portugal, the sporty takes a back seat that evening.
Spain defeated 5-0 (4-0) on the first match day of Group B Portugal. Esther González put the favorite in the lead with an early goal (2nd minute). Top talent Vicky Lopez quickly added (7th), Alexia Putellas and again Esther González made it clear before the break (41./43.). In added time, Cristina Martín-Prieto marked the final score.
Minute for silence for Diogo Jota
It was a sad day for Portuguese football before the kick -off. In the morning it became known that national player Diogo Jota from Liverpool and his brother André Silva died in a car accident.
Before the game in the Bernese Wankdorf-Stadion, there was a minute’s silence to commemorate the two deceased. The ball then rolled and Spain immediately took command. The team of trainer Montserrat Tomé dominated without a world footballer Aitana Bonmatí, who had to be treated in the hospital for meningitis disease in the hospital and took a seat on the bench at the start of the game.
Top talent Vicky Lopez ice cold in front of the gate
Almost 90 seconds were played, the favorite was already in the lead. Esther González artistically accepted a wide ball from the left and gave goalkeeper Inês Pereira no chance from a short distance. The outsiders’ match plan was quickly waste. Portugal – most recently after just one win of six games relegated team from the Nations League – was initially unable to set any accents on the offensive. Continuous approaches to the fast Jéssica Silva consistently suffocated the defensive of the world champion.
Spain, on the other hand, kept up the pace – and remained efficient. The second good chance led to the second goal. Mariona Caldentey brought the ball to the center from the right side, where the 18 -year -old Vicky Lopez was carried out without difficulty. After around a quarter of an hour it could have been 3-0, but Inês Pereira saved against Esther González to the corner.
Further top chances for the top favorite
Spain continued to play cat and mouse with the opponent. Vicky Lopez danced through the Portuguese penalty area and served Alexia Putellas, whose shot narrowly missed the gate from the penalty area (21st). After a good half an hour, Portugal ventured a little more on the offensive, conclusions or even scoring chances failed against the attentive chain of four.
Claudia Pina had the chance of the third Spanish goal, but the 23-year-old failed after a dream combination on the strongly reacting Inês Pereira. Alexia Putellas caught up with this after being served with a great diagonal ball by Mariona Caldentey. Shortly before the break it became strange: Claudia Pina almost flanked from the goal line and hit the inner post. Esther Gonazlez stood where a striker has to stand and shot from a few centimeters – 4: 0.
Spain Vicky Lopez, Esther Gonzalez and Alexia Putellas (VL) cheer the third goal against Portugal.
Spain also superior after the change
After the break, Spain almost put a lightning start again, but Alexia Putellas narrowly missed the short corner from the turn (47.). There was a moment of fright on the other. Goalkeeper Adriana Nanclar’s path fisted a wide free kick into the Spanish penalty area, but also cleared Fatima Pinto with full force, the dazzling remained. The Portuguese was able to continue playing after a short break.
Otherwise there was little change, Spain was the much better team. The final determination was missing in the actions in view of the score. Portugal provided some relief attacks, there was no risk of scoring. The game was now rippling: Spain was satisfied with the result, Portugal was much more stable – and a quarter of an hour before the end almost celebrated the honor goal. But Ana Capeta, who had recently substituted, put the ball past the short corner.
In the 81st minute, Aitana Bonmatí celebrated her return to the square and was able to collect some game practice in the final phase. In injury time, substitute Cristina Martín-Prieto headed to the final score. In the first game of Group B, Italy previously prevailed against Belgium. On Monday (07.07.2025) Spain will meet in Thun in Belgium (6 p.m.). Three hours later, Portugal plays his second game against Italy in Geneva.