Spain hammer Portugal to make Euro statement, Sweden win

Spain showed why they are favourites to win Women's Euro 2025 by hammering Portugal 5-0 in their Group B opener on Thursday as both teams paid tribute to Portuguese men's international Diogo Jota who was killed in a car crash.

The world champions were two ahead inside seven minutes in Bern thanks to goals from Esther Gonzalez and Vicky Lopez and never looked back from there, rattling in three more thanks to Alexia Putellas, another for Gonzalez and a late header from Cristina Martin-Prieto.

"What I enjoyed the most was starting quickly, starting like this allows you to be more patient and wait for Portugal who were forced to attack," said Spain coach Montse Tome.

"I think the team did brilliantly and I'm very happy."

Spain's forward #10 Athenea del Castillo and Spain's forward #09 Esther Gonzalez congratulate each other. AFP

La Roja lead Italy, 1-0 winners against Belgium, on goal difference after showing no mercy to Portugal who were grieving compatriot Jota after his death alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in northern Spain.

Spain's victory was their biggest in a European Championship, surpassing their 4-1 win over Finland in 2022, and was the ideal start for what the tournament favourites hope will be their first Women's Euro title.

Portuguese fans marched to the ground ahead of the match with banners and chants honouring Jota and the tributes continued once supporters were in the Wankdorf Stadium.

"I would like to take a moment to pay respects to Diogo and his brother and say that we're thinking of his family," said Portugal coach Francisco Neto.

"I was assistant coach for the under-19s when he played there and we met there. We kept contact. He always knows the result (of the women's team), he followed the team and the players. This is the culture in Portugal. Today is a really, really sad day."

A difficult day for Portuguese football was made worse less than 90 seconds after kick-off when Gonzalez brilliantly brought down Olga Carmona's high ball before poking past goalkeeper Ines Pereira.

And 18-year-old Lopez became Spain's youngest ever scorer at a women's Euros in the seventh minute when the Barcelona winger slid home Mariona Caldentey's low cross.

Captain Putellas, who missed the last Euros three years ago with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, got in on the act four minutes before the break with a brilliant touch to send Diana Gomes packing before confidently netting.

Spain were relentless and Gonzalez was in the right place at the right time moments later when Claudia Pina's cross bounced back off the post, onto her and into the net.

Portugal's Fatima Pinto (left) and Spain's Esther Gonzalez in action during the Euro 2025, group B, soccer match. AP

Tome had more good news in the shape of Aitana Bonmati who has recovered well enough from viral meningitis to play the final 10 minutes, by which time Spain had long since taken their foot off the gas.

Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Bonmati only returned to training with the Spain squad on Wednesday and her cameo is a major boost to Spain who have never won a women's European championship.

And she was on the field to see Martin-Prieto complete the rout moments before the final whistle by heading in Salma Paralluelo's cross.

"She already wants to play more and it's a pleasure to have players with that kind of mentality," added Tome.

Earlier, Arianna Caruso thumped in the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time to give Italy all three points against Belgium in Sion.

"It's the result we wanted. We grew into the game because we knew we had to manage our emotions for the first game," said Italy coach Andrea Soncin.

"As the match when on we loosened up and out quality showed through."

Bayern Munich midfielder Caruso's strike was the only real highlight of a game which boosted Italy's hopes of taking the other quarter-final spot with Spain seemingly certain to top the group.

Agencies