Spain and Portugal leave each other back-to-back
The two neighbors failed to make a decision (1-1) on Thursday in Seville on the first day of the 2022-2023 Nations League.
It was Alvaro Morata (right) who opened the scoring for Spain.
France Press agency
Spain, which reached the finals of the last edition of the competition, could not do better than 1-1 against Portugal, in a meeting in which Cristiano Ronaldo, who entered after an hour, was very conservative.
This rather tight Iberian duel did not find a winner: in the 25th minute, after a counter-flash led by the young Barcelon Jaffe, Carlos Soler sent Alvaro Morata at the offside limit in the area to score the 26th goal for the Juventus striker in a Roja shirt … But Braga striker Ricardo Horta responded In the 82nd minute alone in the area when Joao Cancelo crossed a cross.
Ronaldo enters in the 62nd minute
Ronaldo carried the captain’s armband when he came.
France Press agency
Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who was saved in the first half and entered 62nd place instead of Ottavio, spent half an hour protesting and was very conservative in the Seleção match.
But without flashes, the Portuguese managed to snatch a precious tie at the Benito Villamarin Stadium, only three quarters on Thursday evening (41,236 spectators out of 60,000 spectators).
Spain, who reached the final of the last edition against France in October (2-1), got off to a better start, with Gavi’s first big shot in the third minute, turned by veteran Pepe.
The young attacking midfielder Barcelona, aged only 17, was very active in the midfield: especially in the transfer base that led to the first goal of the meeting, Alvaro Morata was signed.
Alba’s missed opportunity
But Portugal, initially drugged, woke up during the match: in the 18th minute, Rafael Leao, a tall and young Milan striker (22 years, 1.88 m) courted by Real Madrid, tries his luck in the penalty area. After a wonderful penetration by Rafael Guerrero, but his shot missed the goal.
Portugal largely dominated the second half, but did not find the error until the end of the match, in an act similar to the goal of Spain.
After the Portuguese equalizer, Jordi Alba grabbed the ball 2-1 at the end of the header, but his recovery, in the face of the empty cage, did not catch the frame.
A Czech Republic – Spain on Sunday
For both teams, this match set the tone for the rest of the Nations League and launched both teams on the path to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (November 21 – December 19).
At the end of the first day, it will be the Czech Republic, who beat Switzerland 2-1 on Thursday evening, to take the reins of the very difficult Group B.
On Sunday, Spain (8:45 pm) heads to Prague to face the Czechs as part of the second day, while Portugal hosts Switzerland in parallel at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon.
France Press agency
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