The Portuguese's flawless performance turned into a demonstration on Monday against Luxembourg (9-0). The biggest victory in its history. With the starting team renewed by 50% compared to the team that beat Slovakia (1-0) last Friday, the Seleção achieved its sixth victory in as many days, without conceding a single goal (versus 24 matches).
The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo due to suspension did not constitute a major inconvenience. On the contrary: as happened during his first participation in the World Cup Finals, on 6 December, in the match in which he won the Ballon d'Or five times against Switzerland (6-1), Gonçalo Ramos took full advantage of it. The Paris Saint-Germain striker scored twice, boosting his stats a little more: he now has six goals in eight matches (and only three).
A goal and three assists for Bruno Fernandes
He was replaced in the 61st minute by João Felix, while the suspense of this match stopped for a while: at the break the score was already 4-0 with a brace from the Parisian and a brace from Gonzalo Inacio, the center back of Sporting Portugal. Another Paris Saint-Germain player took advantage of the evening. Danilo Pereira played 75 minutes in a hybrid role, in the middle when the Seleção did not have the ball and between the two centre-backs in the build-up phase.
While Diogo Jota also scored a brace, there has been one final big winner during this trip to the Algarve: Bruno Fernandes, with three assists and the penultimate goal (83rd). Joao Felix completed the attacking festival with a curling shot into the top corner (88).
