Spain thrash Portugal in Women's Euro opener
Cristina Martin-Prieto (left) rounded out the win for Spain late in the match. Photo: Reuters
Spain showed why they are favourites to win Women's Euro 2025 by hammering Portugal 5-0 in their tournament opener, as both teams paid tribute to Portuguese men's international Diogo Jota who was killed in a car crash.
The world champions were two ahead inside seven minutes in Bern thanks to goals from Esther Gonzalez and Vicky Lopez and never looked back from there, rattling in three more thanks to Alexia Putellas, another for Gonzalez and a late header from Cristina Martin-Prieto.
La Roja lead Italy, 1-0 winners against Belgium, on goal difference in Group B after showing no mercy to Portugal who were grieving compatriot Jota after his death alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in northern Spain.
Portuguese fans marched to the ground ahead of the match with banners and chants honouring Jota and the tributes continued once supporters were in the Wankdorf Stadium.
The capacity crowd stood for a moment's silence while a group of Portugal fans held up cards which read "Rest in Peace", while a banner said "thanks for everything".
A difficult day for Portuguese football was made worse less than 90 seconds after kick-off when Gonzalez brilliantly brought down Olga Carmona's high ball before poking past goalkeeper Ines Pereira.
And 18-year-old Lopez became Spain's youngest-ever scorer at a women's Euros in the seventh minute, when the Barcelona winger slid home Mariona Caldentey's low cross. (AFP)
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