Portugal vs Spain – First Half Highlights
An electric first 45 minutes in Munich saw Spain take a 2–1 lead over Portugal at the interval, with both sides showcasing moments of quality and drama.
Key Events
0’ Kick-off: The match began at a frenetic pace, with Spain controlling early possession and probing Portugal’s backline.
22’ – 1–0 Spain (Martín Zubimendi): Spain broke the deadlock through a well-worked move. After a slick passing sequence, Álvaro Morata slipped a through‐ball to Zubimendi, who hammered a low finish past Diogo Costa. A brief VAR check for offside didn’t overturn the goal
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26’ – 1–1 Portugal (Nuno Mendes): Portugal hit back almost immediately. Pedro Neto’s driving run down the right ended with a clever lay-off to Cristiano Ronaldo, whose dummy opened space for Nuno Mendes. The full-back smashed a low strike into the corner to level matters
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45’+1’ – 2–1 Spain (Mikel Oyarzabal): As first-half stoppage time kicked in, Pedri led a swift Spanish counter. His incisive pass found Oyarzabal, who calmly slotted home to restore La Roja’s lead just before the break
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Tactical Battle
Midfield Control: Spain’s double pivot of Rodri and Fabián Ruiz dictated the tempo, recycling possession and launching attacks through Pedri’s creativity.
Counter-Attack Threats: Portugal’s strength lay in swift transitions. Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva combined well to create space for Nuno Mendes and Ronaldo, exemplified by the equalizer.
Full-Back Duels: João Cancelo and Rafael Guerreiro offered width and crossing options for Portugal, while Jordi Alba and Dani Carvajal nullified many of their advances.
Player of the Half
Mikel Oyarzabal (ESP): His composed finish under pressure capped a classy first half for Spain, showcasing his knack for big-game moments.
Big miss from pedri
🚨🇪🇺 MARTIN ZUBIMENDI OPENS THE SCORING FOR SPAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
🚨🇪🇺 GOAL | Spain 1-1 Portugal | Nuno Mendes
NUNO MENDES HAS EQUALIZED FOR PORTUGAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
🚨🇪🇺 GOAL | Spain 2-1 Portugal | Oyarzabal
OYARZABAL HAS GIVEN SPAIN THE LEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PEDRI WITH THE ASSIST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What to Expect in the Second Half
Momentum Swings: Portugal will look to build on their equalizer and challenge Spain’s possession dominance.
Adjustments: Watch for tactical tweaks from Roberto Martínez—perhaps introducing fresh legs in midfield to disrupt Spain’s rhythm.
Key Matchup: The duel between Pedri’s creativity and Vitinha’s work-rate could determine control in central areas.
Stay tuned as both teams strive for continental glory!
