New Delhi: Both Spain and Portugal were heading into their next UEFA Nations League 2024/25 fixture on the back of sub-par performances. After going through the entire UEFA Euro 2024 with a 100% win record, Spain were held by Serbia in their previous encounter while Portugal finished their match against Croatia with a hard-fought win, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s 900th career goal stealing the limelight.
Spain were playing their second away match of the international break as they were hosted by Switzerland at the Stade de Genève in Lancy, Geneva after travelling to Serbia in the previous game. Conversely, Portugal were hosting Scotland at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in Lisbon, the same stadium where they took on Croatia in their previous fixture.
Switzerland 1-4 Spain
Joselu with Lamine Yamal during the UEFA Nations league match between Switzerland v Spain at the Stade de Geneve on September 8, 2024 in Geneva Switzerland (Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Spain dominated the entire game against Serbia but failed to find the back of the net and ended the game feeling like they dropped two points. This time, against Switzerland, they made sure they didn’t have any of the same regrets and got down to business early in the game. The visitors took the lead in just the fourth minute as former Real Madrid striker Joselu headed the ball towards goal from a Lamine Yamal cross. Even though Gregor Kobel got to the ball, he couldn’t stop it from crossing the line and the goal was given.
Minutes later, Spain had the ball in the back of their own net through Bećir Omeragić but Remo Frueler’s hand inadvertently touched the ball in the build-up and the goal was ruled out after a VAR intervention. Things went from bad to worse for the hosts as just a couple minutes after their goal was ruled out, Spain had doubled their advantage. Fabian Ruiz showed his poacher-like instincts to get to Yamal’s rebound and make it 2-0 for the visitors.
Lamine Yamal’s last 14 games for club and country:
Northern Ireland—🎁🎁
Croatia—🎁
Italy—❌
Albania—❌
Georgia—🎁
Germany—🎁
France—⚽
England—🎁
Valencia—🎁
Athletic Club—⚽
Rayo Vallecano—🎁
Real Valladolid—🎁🎁
Serbia—❌
Switzerland—🎁
A goal-contribution machine ☎️ pic.twitter.com/gyS2e8cITv
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 8, 2024
There was more drama to come inside the first 20 minutes as new Atletico Madrid defender Robin Le Normand was shown a red card for denying Breel Embolo a clear goal-scoring opportunity which meant Spain had to play the next 70 minutes with a man down. Switzerland tried to stage a comeback after Spain were down to ten men and got themselves a goal towards the end of the first half through Zeki Amdouni to make the score 2-1.
However, the half-time whistle came at the wrong time for them, just when the hosts were gaining momentum. The break completely broke Switzerland’s momentum and allowed Spain to rejig their tactics to hold onto the result. And it looked like Luis de la Fuente’s men were doing just that but they went on to score two more goals in quick succession towards the end as Ruiz got his second and Ferran Torress completed the rout to make it 4-1 to the defending champions on the night.
Portugal 2-1 Scotland
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring to make it 2-1 during a UEFA Nations League match between Portugal and Scotland at the Estadio da Luz, on September 08, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
After planting the seeds for victory against Croatia with an early goal, Portugal were on the receiving end of the same this time as Napoli’s new signing Scott McTominay stunned the Lisbon crowd by putting his side ahead in the seventh minute of the match. Playing like a proper box-to-box midfielder for his nation, McTominay ghosted in at the far post to head home a Kenny McLean cross and made it 1-0 for the visitors.
Portugal looked to respond with a goal of their own but couldn’t find the goal with numerous efforts to get back on level terms throughout the first half. The hosts missed plenty of chances which was reflected in their xG as they ended the half with zero goals but their xG was 1.18. Antonio Silva was guilty of some glaring misses while Angus Gunn was on hand to stop everything that was on target.
🚨🚨| 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃: Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored against 48 different nations at the senior international level, setting a new record for any player in the history of football. 🤯🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/FlmVHXr0v6
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) September 8, 2024
After not being able to find the net in the first half, Portugal finally made their efforts count nine minutes into the second as Bruno Fernandes shinned a Rafa Leao cut-back into the bottom right corner to get his side back level with the visitors. After Scotland had two huge shouts for penalties denied, Portugal threw everything they had at goal and Gunn was on hand to thwart every effort they made.
Just when it looked like the game was headed towards a draw, Cristiano Ronaldo got his 901st career goal to make it 2-1 for his country in the 88th minute to gift his nation the three points. Exactly like the game against Croatia, it was Ronaldo’s goal that proved to be the winner and was assisted by the same person as well. Nuno Mendes did some good work to play the ball into the box towards Ronaldo who finished it from close range. This victory means Portugal sit top of their with two wins from two.
Cristiano Ronaldo rescues his country against Scotland deep into the game as Spain cruise past Switzerland despite playing over an hour with just 10 men. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
