Reigning world champions Spain kicked off their 2025 Euro campaign with a decisive 5-0 victory over Portugal behind two goal contributions from Gotham FC striker Esther González.
The night started out with a tribute to Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, following their deaths early Thursday morning. Portuguese fans flooded the stadium with banners and posters dedicated to Jota, and both teams paid tribute to the brothers, observing a moment of silence while Jota's image filled the stadium screens.
The bittersweet game that followed played out entirely in Spain's favor, with four first-half goals and a stunning last-minute strike from forward Cristina Martín-Prieto to seal their first game of the tournament. Portugal was unable to come up with answers to a strong Spanish attacking line, leaving them at a disadvantage to make it out of the group stages.
Spain: 22 shots, 9 shots on target, 72% possession, 596 passes, 87% pass accuracy, 11 fouls, 10 corners, 2 offsides
Portugal: 7 shots, 1 shot on target, 28% possession, 240 passes, 70% pass accuracy, 5 fouls, 1 corner, 3 offsides
Goals:
• Spain, Esther González, 2'
• Spain, Vicky López, 7'
• Spain, Alexia Putellas, 41'
• Spain, Esther González, 43'
• Spain, Cristina Martín-Prieto, 90+3'
Esther González scores yet another brace
It could only be the goal leader in the National Women's Soccer League who would open the scoring for Spain: On the same day that the NWSL named González to the league's Best XI and Best Player of the Month for June, she scored a brace for her national team.
It took just 87 seconds for the 32-year-old forward to put one in the net. Left-back Olga Carmona sent a long pass just past midfield towards González, who outran Portugal's backline to take control of the ball with her shoulder before sending a volley into the back of the net.
Spanish forward Mariona Caldentey assisted both Vicky López and Alexia Putellas in the following goals, putting Spain in prime position heading into halftime. It wasn't enough for González, however, as she nailed her second goal off a rebound off the net post in the 43rd minute.
Courtesy of FOX Soccer
"We started the tournament well," said Spain's head coach, Montserrat Tomé. "In a competition like this, winning the first game and scoring early is really important. We had some great moments in the first half, went 4-0 up, and followed the game plan perfectly. I’m happy with the team’s performance."
González's brace yesterday was her fifth of the year: The four she scored for Gotham puts her in a five-way tie for the NWSL single-season record with 13 games left to play.
Megha Gupta
New Spanish scorer?
Questions emerged around the fate of Spain's attacking lineup following yet another national team roster without Jenni Hermoso. Spain's all-time goal scorer did not make Tomé's Euros roster, marking the fourth consecutive time that Hermoso was left off the national team. Hermoso's absence leaves an opening for Spain's next star to make their mark.
With Aitana Bonmati still recovering from viral meningitis, González is a prime candidate for the position if she continues to play like she did last night. Tomé's 4-1-4-1 lineup with González as lead striker gave the Gotham forward an opportunity to prove her worth. She's no stranger to pressure, both at a club and national stage. On track to surpass Sam Kerr and become Gotham's all-time top scorer, González has the potential to lead Spain to Euros glory as one of the tournament's top scorers.
Putellas is also another candidate, not only scoring against Portugal last night, but also finishing the 2024-2025 season with Barcelona as the club's second-highest scorer. She has the leadership, skill, and determination to push herself as a player while also creating chances for her team, evidenced by her key passes in last night's match and her recognition as Player of the Match by UEFA.
Michael Battista
Jessica Silva starts for Portugal
Jessica Silva made Portugal's starting XI for last night's match, playing as one of two forwards with Sporting CP's Diana Silva. The duo faced a tough opponent in the face of an unrelenting Spanish midfield comprised of Barcelona's Putellas and López, with additional support from Pina, Caldentey, and Patricia Guijarro. There was little to no space for either Jessica or Diana to make a decisive strike, ultimately leaving Portugal room to attempt a meager 7 shots compared to Spain's 22.
Amidst Portugal's own scrabble to defend came their inability to keep possession of the ball. Spain held possession throughout the majority of the game, unwilling to yield to either Portugal forward. Portugal created scrappy passes, most of which were sent Jessica's way in flimsy attempts to give her chances to score. Jessica had a chance to score minutes into the second half; however, she misplaced her target and sent it flying to the left. It's a similar problem that's plagued her at Gotham, failing to finish in several matches that ended in draws or losses.
"We lacked intensity, especially in the first half," said Portugal midfielder Tatiana Pinto. "I think in the second half we managed to play better, with more intensity and aggression. From now on, our path has to be to look at the second half and repeat what we did well."
