Alexia Putellas and Mariona Caldentey blow Portugal away as Spain open Euro 2025 campaign in style

Spain started their Euro 2025 campaign with a dominant display over Portugal, running out 5-0 winners in this Group B clash.

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  TELL ME MORE

  Spain showed zero mercy, as they ran roughshod over their Iberian neighbours. Any chances of Portugal frustrating their rivals were out of the window by the second minute, with Spain taking the lead after Ester Gonzalez bundled an Olga Carmona pass past poor Ines Pereira. The lead was quickly doubled; Vicky Lopez latching on to a delightful cross from the classy right boot of Mariona Caldentey.

  Portugal were industrious and game for the middle section of the half, perhaps jolted into action out of embarrassment or fear of humiliation. However, La Roja continued to hammer home their superiority, stringing together neat passing moves at the edge of the box that beguiled their opposition and captured the imagination of a sell-out crowd in Bern. Lopez, Alexia Putellas, Claudia Pina and Caldentey were linking up at will, an ominous sign that soon the floodgates would truly open.

  In the 41st minute, Caldentey picked the ball up on the halfway line and was given all the time in the world to pick up her head and find the darting run of Putellas. The Barcelona legend chested the ball down, cut past the desperate slide of Diana Gomes and buried past Pereira. A beautiful goal. Two minutes later, Spain proved they can score scrappy ones too, as Gonzales bundled in her second after a cross from Pina rebounded off the inside of the Portuguese post.

  The second half started in a similar fashion, Spain camped in the Portugal half looking for a breakthrough. Always looking for an extra pass, perhaps La Roja would have been better served taking more shots rather than searching for the perfect goal. Portugal's brief skirmishes into the Spanish half were driven by solo lung busting runs by the rapid Ana Borges.

  Ultimately, Spain were able to keep those brief excursions at bay, and appeared to content leave the game with their first clean sheet this calendar year. However, they had to have one last laugh, as substitute Cristina Martín-Prieto powered home a headed effort in injury time.

Women's EURO

Spain
Spain
18 Jul 202515:00

Switzerland
Switzerland
• DID YOU KNOW?

  Spain dominated their rivals in every facet of the game. They finished with 71% possession, 20 shots on goal to their opponents' seven, and had 50 touches in the opposing box to Portugal's five.

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  THE MVP

  This gong could have gone to any number of the Spanish players, but Arsenal maestro Caldentey demonstrated her immense technical abilities in setting up two of Spain's first half goals. She looked so dangerous when drifting off the right flank and picking out devastating pass after devastating pass to Pina and Putellas in the opposite channel. What a player.

• THE BIG LOSER

  Diana Gomes' attempt at stopping Putellas' brilliant goal was a microcosm for an entire performance. The Portuguese defenders did not know whether to get tight or sit off Spain's brilliant attackers. Ultimately, they did neither and compounded their misery trying to play on their own 18-yard line. A frazzled effort in the face of excellence.

• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Spain will look to continue their winning ways as they face off against Belgium on Monday. Later in the evening, Portugal get their shot at redemption when they take on Italy.

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  MATCH RATING (OUT OF FIVE): ⭐⭐⭐