Spain vs Portugal: Five-Star Start for Euro 2025 Holders

Spain vs Portugal opened Euro 2025 qualifying with a surge of red-hot football as La Roja swept aside their Iberian neighbours 5-0 in Badajoz. Within ten breathless minutes Alexia Putellas and Mariona Caldentey had buried Portugal’s resistance, and Jorge Vilda’s world champions never looked back. By the final whistle they had banked three points, five goals, 71 per cent possession and, perhaps most importantly, an early psychological edge in Group B.

Spain vs Portugal – Key Moments That Shaped the Rout

The Iberian derby exploded into life after just five minutes when Putellas ghosted into the box to nod home Ona Batlle’s looping cross. Spain vs Portugal rarely pauses for breath, and four minutes later Caldentey doubled the tally with a curling effort from the edge of the D. Portugal’s defensive lines, stretched and disoriented, conceded again just before the interval as defender Valeria López turned Olga Carmona’s driven centre into her own net. Late strikes from Eva González and Aitana Bonmatí gilded the scoreline, but the damage—and the lesson—had been delivered long before.

Tactical Dominance and Relentless Pressing

Vilda set his side up in a fluid 4-3-3, allowing Bonmatí and Putellas to interchange, overload, and suffocate Portugal’s midfield. Spain vs Portugal highlighted the gulf not only in technique but in pressing co-ordination: every time the visitors attempted to play out, a red wave crashed down. The result was 18 turnovers inside Portugal’s own third, producing an xG of 3.9 and a shot count of 24-4.

Player Performances: Putellas & Caldentey Lead the Charge

Putellas’ opener made her the first Spaniard—male or female—to score in four consecutive competitive meetings against Portugal. Caldentey, buzzing between the lines, created five chances and completed 91 per cent of her passes in the final third. Bonmatí, fresh from her Best FIFA award, orchestrated tempo while Irene Paredes marshalled the back line to a first clean sheet of 2025. For Portugal, only goalkeeper Inês Pereira emerged with her reputation enhanced, clawing away six near-certain goals.

What the 5-0 Win Means for Euro 2025 Qualifying

Spain vs Portugal may be only Matchday 1, but three early points can dictate the rhythm of a qualifying campaign. La Roja top Group B ahead of Belgium and Italy, both of whom drew 1-1 in Brussels. With two direct spots available, Spain can now rotate in March’s double-header against Belgium, while Portugal face a must-win tie versus Italy. A superior goal difference of +5 already feels like an extra point in the bank.

Portugal’s Road to Redemption

Francisco Neto’s side showed flashes: Andreia Jacinto broke lines, while Kika Nazareth struck the bar at 2-0. Yet without star striker Diana Silva, Portugal looked blunt. Neto must tighten transitional defence before welcoming Italy to Estádio do Restelo, or risk seeing hopes dashed by April.

Historical Context Elevates the Latest Spain vs Portugal Clash

This was the twelfth official women’s meeting between the nations since 2009; Spain have now won eleven, scoring 34 and conceding just twice. More broadly, the fixture mirrors the men’s rivalry with an added layer of burgeoning Portuguese ambition. Each Spain vs Portugal encounter, therefore, is measuring stick and masterclass rolled into one.

Atmosphere Inside Estadio Nuevo Vivero

A partisan 17,200 crowd braved February drizzle and were rewarded with champagne football. The home federation’s drive to take high-profile women’s matches outside Madrid and Barcelona paid off: local youth teams lined the touchlines, flags turned the stands scarlet, and the roar for Putellas’ header rattled nearby apartment blocks.

Numbers Game

• 5 – Goals scored, Spain’s biggest margin over Portugal in a competitive match
• 71% – Possession, exceeding their 2023 World Cup average
• 0.27 – Portugal’s xG, underlining Spain’s defensive grip
• 11 – Consecutive competitive wins for La Roja
• 100 % – Spain’s pass completion in the build-up to their third goal (22 passes)

Injury Watch and Squad Depth

Claudia Zornoza limped off with what appeared to be a minor ankle sprain; tests will follow, but Vilda can call upon the versatile Teresa Abelleira. Meanwhile, teenage prodigy Vicky López made a late cameo, announcing a bright future by dribbling past two defenders to tee up González’s finish.

Broadcast Impact and Grassroots Ripple

Spain’s public broadcaster reported peak national audience figures of 2.3 million, a record for a women’s qualifier outside a major tournament. The RFEF’s partnership with regional academies ensured the match-ball was delivered by girls from Badajoz’s U-12 league—symbolic proof that every Spain vs Portugal showdown fuels the next generation.

Looking Ahead

• Spain vs Belgium – 4 March, Leuven
• Spain vs Belgium – 8 March, Seville
• Portugal vs Italy – 5 March, Lisbon
• Italy vs Portugal – 9 March, Florence

Should Spain take at least four points from Belgium, qualification could be mathematically sealed before summer.

Opinion: A Statement Sent Well Beyond the Scoreline

Spain’s emphatic victory is more than three points; it is a declaration that the treble—World Cup, Nations League, and Euro—lies firmly in their sights. For Portugal, the gulf is stark, but not insurmountable; tactical tweaks and the return of Diana Silva could yet make the rematch in Porto a tighter narrative. For now, though, Europe has been warned: when Spain vs Portugal ignites, La Roja still control the spark and the fire.