Esther Gonzalez scored twice and world champion Spain delivered a press release of intent by routing Portugal 5-0 of their 2025 Ladies’s Euro opener on Thursday.
The 32-year-old González turned the oldest participant to attain for Spain, minutes earlier than 18-year-old Vicky Lopez turned the youngest.
Spain captain Alexia Putellas additionally scored for La Roja, exhibiting she’s prepared to guide the group to success after lacking Euro 2022 with a knee harm. Spain misplaced to eventual winner England within the quarterfinals of that event.
“We have been speaking about how motivated we’re for this (Euro) for thus lengthy, and now we needed to present it. We have now motive to be happy,” Putellas instructed Spanish broadcaster TVE.
Substitute Cristina Martin-Prieto accomplished the scoring with a header in stoppage time.
González wasted little time earlier than opening the scoring after 87 seconds with a flick previous Ines Pereira. It rapidly turned obvious the Portugal goalkeeper would have a busy recreation. She did.
Pereira did effectively to clear a cross however was unable to cease Mariona Caldentey giving López a tap-in minutes later.
Solely 24 minutes had been performed when the followers began a Mexican wave across the practically 30,000-capacity Wankdorf Stadium, usually dwelling to Swiss Tremendous League group Younger Boys. The membership additionally has a girls’s group, which can be referred to as Younger Boys.
Spain dominated possession in a textbook first-half show. Teammates’ work off the ball ensured there was all the time a passing choice. No participant had the ball for lengthy because it zipped round and the Portuguese gamers had been left to chase it.
Spain vs. Portugal UEFA Ladies’s Euro 2025 Highlights | FOX Soccer
Try the highlights for the opening matchup of the UEFA Ladies’s Euro 2025 between Spain and Portugal.
Putellas went shut, Pereira denied Claudia Pina, and it was no shock when Putellas lastly bought the third aim after she displayed some sensible management to evade a defender within the forty first.
The fourth got here two minutes later when González tucked within the rebound after Pina’s cross got here again off the publish.
However Spain coach Montse Tomé could have considerations about her group’s second-half efficiency as her gamers’ degree of management dropped. Martin-Prieto’s late aim was the one addition.
Spain didn’t want Aitana Bonmatí. The 2-time Ballon d’Or winner stayed on the substitutes bench till happening for López within the 81st. Bonmatí had been a doubt for the event after being hospitalized for viral meningitis final week.
“She’s an important participant for us and we’re joyful she’s again with us after recovering from her sickness,” Putellas mentioned of Bonmatí. “Now we hope she will be able to get again rapidly to prime enjoying kind.”
The sport was preceded by a second’s silence for Portugal and Liverpool ahead Diogo Jota, killed in a automobile crash together with his brother the evening earlier than.
Italy defeated Belgium 1-0 within the different Group B recreation earlier. Spain performs Belgium subsequent on Monday.
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