UEFA Nations League.. Portugal relegates Spain from the lead before meeting it
The Portuguese national team removed its Spanish counterpart from the top of Group B yesterday, by defeating the Czech Republic by 4-0, and losing “La Roja” to Switzerland 1-2, in the fifth penultimate round of the European Nations League in football.
With this victory, "Celeção" Europe raised its score to 10 points in first place, while Spain fell to second place with 8 points, and Switzerland was behind with six points, leaving the bottom of the standings to Czech Republic with four points.
Portugal will host Spain, runner-up, on the 27th of this month in the sixth round matches, at the top of this group to determine the identity of the leader, where Cristiano Ronaldo's companions can be satisfied with a draw, while "La Roja" needs to win to book its ticket to the semi-finals.
In the first match, the Czechs started the match with a pressing attack in the first ten minutes to no avail. The Portuguese took control and were able to open the scoring in the 33rd minute through Manchester United's Diogo Dalot after a crucial pass from AC Milan striker Rafael Leao.
His club colleague Bruno Fernandes doubled the score on the first goal method by completing a perfect pass from Napoli player Mario Rui (45 + 2).
Amid the Czechs' attempts to return in the match, German Bayer Leverkusen player Patrick Schick missed a penalty kick (45 + 6), which was awarded by the referee after a handball from Ronaldo after using the video assistant referee (VAR).
The Portuguese punished Czech Republic in the second half with two more goals.
Dalot scored his double in the 52nd minute with a beautiful long shot, before Diogo Jota concluded the goals fest after a corner that Ronaldo headed in and the Liverpool player also headed into the net in the 82nd minute.
Switzerland inflicted the first loss on Spain in the third edition of the continental competition after two wins and two draws, which is the first loss for the "La Roja" team since losing the final of the last edition last year 1-2 against France, achieving 6 wins against two draws since October 2021. It is the first victory for the Swiss team over His Spanish counterpart, since his 1-0 victory over him in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, is on the way for the latter to win his first world title.
It is also the second successive victory for Switzerland in the Nations League after its victory over Portugal 1-0 in the previous round, after it started its campaign with three defeats in a row.
Coach Luis Enrique made radical changes to his starting lineup compared to the previous international window, keeping only three players, while six of Barcelona were involved in defense, Jordi Alba, Eric Garcia and attacking Ferran Torres, along with Real Madrid players Marco Asensio and Paris Saint-Germain, Pablo Sarabia, while Alvaro Morata (Atlético de Madrid) sat on the bench.
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