Spain 5-0 Portugal: Gonzalez strikes twice in five-star victory
Spain's bid to win a maiden Euros title began in some style as they cruised to a 5-0 victory over Portugal to go top of Group B.
Spain opened their Euro 2025 account with a statement 5-0 victory over Portugal at Stadion Wankdorf on Thursday.
The match began with a moment of remembrance for Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who both died in a car accident earlier on Thursday.
Spain made the perfect start with Esther Gonzalez finding a breakthrough just 87 seconds into the game. She brought Olga Carmona's long ball down with her shoulder before flicking an improvised volley past Ines Pereira despite having her back to goal.
Five minutes later, Vicky Lopez doubled their lead; she timed her run perfectly to stay onside and stretched out a leg to poke Mariona Caldentey's low cross in from close range.
Spain continued to dominate and eventually found their way through again in the 41st minute. Alexia Putellas rounded the sliding Diana Gomes as she cut inside from the left before curling a fine finish past Pereira.
Gonzalez got her second goal less than two minutes later. Her first shot was blocked, but Spain kept it alive. Claudia Pina's cross struck the post, but Gonzalez was perfectly placed to knock it in from two yards out.
Spain were boosted by the return of Aitana Bonmati, who came on as a second-half substitute, having been hospitalised with viral meningitis last week.
La Roja managed just two shots on target in the second half, with Cristina Martin-Prieto netting with the last effort in the 93rd minute as she rose high to thump Salma Paralluelo's cross into the back of the net.
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Spain are the favourites to win the Euros according to the Opta supercomputer, and they laid down a marker as they chase a maiden title in the tournament.
Gonzalez's opener (1:27) was the fourth-earliest goal from the start of a game on record (since 2013) at the Women's Euros and Spain's earliest ever at the tournament.
In fact, they are just the second side to score twice within the opening seven minutes of a Euros game after Switzerland, who also did so against Portugal in their 2022 opener (2-0 up after 4:15).
Lopez (18 years 342 days) is Spain's youngest ever scorer at the Euros and just the second teenager to net for them at the tournament after Alexia Putellas (19y 158d v England in 2013).
