Cristiano Ronaldo hit the crossbar as Portugal and Spain performed out a goalless attract a compelling pleasant in Lisbon on Wednesday. Ronaldo and Renato Sanchez each struck the woodwork for Portugal, who then ought to have gained it in injury-time just for Joao Felix to miskick on the again put up. Spain have been the higher group early on on the Jose Alvalade stadium and in addition went shut by way of Dani Olmo however neither aspect have been in a position to declare victory forward of upcoming video games within the Nations League. “I feel we have been higher than Portugal,” mentioned Spain coach Luis Enrique. “We dominated the sport. For certain they’d two photographs on the break that hit the bar and one which Kepa saved however we had possibilities as properly.”
Each sit prime of their Nations League teams, Portugal with most factors after beating Croatia and Sweden whereas Spain have 4 after thrashing Ukraine and drawing with Germany.
Spain go up towards Switzerland on Saturday earlier than enjoying towards Ukraine three days later. Portugal face world champions France on Sunday after which play at dwelling to Sweden.
Throughout the first half, it was additionally introduced by the soccer federations of the 2 international locations they are going to stage a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
They are going to be competing towards Morocco, in addition to one other joint bid from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile.
The final time Spain and Portugal met was for the thrilling Three-Three draw on the 2018 World Cup, when Ronaldo scored a hat-trick, together with a shocking late equaliser from a free-kick.
This was a far much less dramatic contest, with each groups nonetheless rebuilding forward of subsequent 12 months’s postponed European Championships.
It was the primary time Spain had failed to attain since dropping to Italy on the 2016 European Championships in France.
Luis Enrique fielded an experimental eleven, which included Chelsea’s struggling goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Manchester Metropolis’s 19-year-old central defender Eric Garcia and the newly called-up Sergio Canales in midfield.
For Portugal, the 20-year-old Francisco Trincao, who has simply joined Barcelona, began in a entrance three with Ronaldo and Andre Silva.
Spain loved an outstanding opening quarter of an hour however had nothing to indicate for it, as Gerard Moreno missed from shut vary and Olmo volleyed extensive.
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Portugal went closest within the second half. Ronaldo shifted onto his left foot and thundered a shot towards the crossbar. He then turned supplier, curving a go proper to Renato, whose effort additionally crashed towards the body and bounced out.
The most effective probability although fell to Felix in injury-time, the ball discovering him free on the again put up, just for the teen to slip and by some means fail to attach.
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