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Spain 0-0 Portugal: result, summary

MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 04: Nelson Semedo of Portugal is challenged by Pablo Sarabia of Spain during the international friendly match between Spain and Portugal at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on June 04, 2021 in MADRID, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Spain 0-0 Portugal: as it happened

Just 36 international goals among the whole of Spain's current squad beyond Morata's 19 in fact. And eight of those belong to Jordi Alba.

On balance it's probably fair to say that Spain had the better of the game overall but Morata didn't have his scoring boots on this evening. Luis Enrique will be hoping he finds them before the Euros becase there aren't too many viable Plans B in his squad.

In summary....

90+3

And that's the whistle! The ref blows for full time and it ends 0-0 in Madrid.

90+3

Carvalho rises to meet it and hits the target but the flag is up as Simón smothers the effort.

90+2

Portugal win a free kick and this will be the last chance of the game...

90+1

Morata! The striker is clean through from a ball over the top and only has the keeper to beat but whacks the crossbar with a well-hit strike!

90

Two minutes added...

89

Diego Llorente hooks a Ronaldo-bound ball to safety as time runs out for both sides...

88

Nearly worked! Koke pings in a free kick that goes straight through to Rui Patricio, who does well to deal with an awkward bounce and parries the ball to safety!

86

It looks as though Portugal's run of never having won on Spanish soil is set to continue. The last four meetings between these sides in Spain have ended in a draw. It would be a brave person who bets against a fifth here now.

84

The game has opened up a bit in the last 10 minutes but clear-cut chances are still at a premium.

82

Ronaldo! A defensive error from Spain puts the Portugual captain in and he can hardly believe his luck, to the extent that he puts too much on a header designed to cover the final couple of yards to goal and sends it straight through to Simón!

80

Morata! It only needed a touch again as Llorente fizzes in a lovely cross but the striker couldn't connect!

78

More changes than action at the moment. Diego Llorente comes on for Spain, Laporte makes way.

77

Ronaldo's hands go to his hips and his eyes to the sky as Fernandes overhits a cross aimed at the captain arriving in the middle.

Gerard Moreno also on there, for Sarabia.

74

Another change for Spain, Fabián off and Koke on to a huge cheer from the Metropolitano.

71

It just needed a boot! Sarabia delivers the best cross of the game so far and it skids across the six yard box begging to be hit but evades defenders and attackers both!

70

Sanches and Jota off, João Palhinha and Rafa Silva on.

68

Close! Fernandes finds his captain with a pinpoint delivery and Ronaldo glances just wide!

67

Dangerous free kick for Portugal out on the right. Fernandes over it, Ronaldo making eyes at him.

65

Unai Simón gets himself out of a spot of bother with some quick footwork in the area. We're not sure what Luis Enrique's preference is for getting the ball out from the back but we are fairly convinced it's not what the Athletic keeper has been doing this evening.

63

Triple change from Luis Enrique now. Thiago, Busquets, and Pau Torres off, Pedri, Rodri and Eric García on.

60

Jota! Ronaldo picks up the ball on the right and beats Pau Torres to the byline, where he squares for the Liverpool striker, who misses the target from practically under the bar!

59

Double change for Portugal. Bruno Fernandes and William Carvalho on, Pepe and Sérgio Oliveira off.

57

Sarabia! What a miss! Great work from Lorente as he pressures Pepe into a mistake and he squares for the PSG forward, who blazes over an open goal from a few yards out!

54

Morata! The Spain striker gets two bites of the cherry, the first is blocked and the second is dragged wide with his left peg! Better from Spain at the beginning of the second half though.

52

Plenty of movement on both benches now. Changes are afoot.

50

Corner for Portugal as Laporte goes almost as close as the visitors have managed so far with a horribly shanked clearance.

49

Morata! Rui Patricio finally gets his gloves dirty from the striker's shot, which was tame but on target at least.

48

Nice move from Portugal, Sanches finding Ronaldo who flicks on for Jota, but the Liverpool forward is pulled up or handball as the ball bounced up in the box.

46

No changes yet from Spain.

46

Back underway!

Pedro Gonçalves on for João Félix at half time, and the Atleti forward does not look happy about it.

Spain didn't manage a shot on goal in the opening half. We suspect Gerard Moreno may come on at half time, and Adama Traoré has to be worth a shot against a fairly static - if very comfortable so far - Portugal central defence.

According to Pedro Martín, the last time Portugal were beaten on Spanish turf was in 1958, with Alfredo di Stéfano providing the goal. It was also the first televised Spain match in the country.

45

And that's the half! A few flashes of intent from both sides but this has largely been a gloves very much on affair in the opening 45.

45

Sanches tries to release Ronaldo after a run from midfield but even the Portugal captain can't chase that one down. The Lille player has lacked a final ball this evening so far.

43

Fabián has a pop that takes a slight deflection for a Spain corner. Thiago looks for Laporte at the near post but Pepe, who has been excellent in this half, clears.

42

Semedo bursts forward from midfield but Pau Torres, who is settling into his role as defensive leader well, halts his run.

40

From which again no danger is created. Luis Enrique may well be looking to his bench to see what else he has up his sleeve for the second half. Pedri may be an option to provide some more direct attacking options.

39

Spain continuing to plow the furrow out on the wings btu with little threat emering from the tactic. The hosts do win a corner though...

36

Ronaldo affords himself a chuckle as Sanches' ball is deflected back to Simón, whose attempted clearance hits the Portugal captain and is headed towards goal before the Spain keeper gathers the ricochet.

35

Sarabia hits the deck this time and Sanches is involved again but it was accidental as the Portugal man just fell over as went for the ball.

33

Sanches and Gaya both go down after a collision on the Spain left and the ref is forced to have a word as the Lille midfielder goes back for more with his studs showing.

31

Torres tries to release the unattended Sarabia on the left but his pass is well overhit.

29

Spain are very nearly caught out playing a dangerous game inside their own area and Simón is forced to hoof it clear. 

27

Torres! Morata flicks a ball into the path of the Man City forward and he ghosts in behind Pepe to head just wide of Rui Patricio's post!

26

But Portugal try a training ground routine instead, which judging by the outcome few of the participants were in attendance for.

25

Free kick for Portugal in Ronaldo range as Busquets tangles with Félix.

23

Fonte did rather use Pau Torres as a climbing aid there, and in fairness he didn't protest the decision too enthusiastically.

22

Portugal have the ball in the net! Fonte rises to meet Raphaël Guerreiro's cross and finds the far corner but the ref has his hand up for a foul by the Portugal defender!

20

Thinking about it, Pepe and Fonte must be the oldest central defensive pairing in international football surely? If not in history? 75 years and a lot of headed clearances between them.

18

Spain are getting around Portugal on the flanks with little trouble but the final bal into the box has given Morata little to go on. Most of the crosses are too long and Portugal seem happy enough with the arrangement as it stands, looking no doubt to hit on the break.

15

75 percent possession for Spain so far. Still no shots on goal though.

14

Sarabia hammers a cross in and it deflects off Semedo for the first corner of the game.

12

Portugal's first meanginful attack is broken up as Pau Torres heads a cross clear.

10

Lovely from Spain! Laporte lofts it long to Sarabia, who controls and glides past his marker to square. Portugal manage to hook it clear just as Llorente, popping up near the penalty spot, was shaping to shoot.

7

Spain knocking the ball about from side to side and looking for an opening but Portugal are happy to sit back and let the hosts probe. In the absence of a link man behind the strikers Spain are looking to make headway along the wings.

5

Torres plays Morata in with a cute flick but the hugely experienced José Fonte is there to deny the Juve striker a run through on goal.

4

Pau Torres plays a nice ball forward and his namesake Ferrán chases it down and hooks in a cross but Portugal clear.

2

Less than a minute on the clock and Busquets is pulled up for a clumsy challenge on Danilo.

1

We're off! Spain get the ball rolling in Madrid!

The anthems are underway, Portugal's players give theirs some welly. Spain's don't of course - there are no words to the Spanish anthem.

The teams are coming out of the tunnel now and there are some predictable boos for Ronaldo from the crowd, good natured enough though and the former Real Madrid man smiles accordingly.

fans

Portugal and Spain fans are starting to file into the Metropolitano. The teams are out for their warm-ups. It's a lovely evening in Madrid and we're starting to get a little excited about the Euros now!

fan

Fans will be allowed in the Metropolitano this evening, one of the first games on Spanish soil to get the go-ahead for spectators after the loosening of covid-19 regulations in the country. Around 15,000 are expected at the 68,000-seat home of Atlético.

Portugal starting XI confirmed

Fernando Santos has gone with the tried and tested largely as well. Ronaldo will lead the line of course, with João Félix and Jota in support. Old warhorse Pepe will be tasked with making life uncomfortable for Spain's forwards.

Spain starting XI confirmed

Luis Enrique has announced his starting line-up and the Spain coach has largely opted for experience. Ferrán Torres gets the nod in attack and Aymeric Laporte starts in defence after his switch from France, with Marcos Llorente slotting in at right back.

The BBC have run a nice feature on Ronaldo and his pursuit of every European Championship record in the books.

Ronaldo was among the side that lost 4-2 on penalties to Spain in the semis at the 2012 Euros, the then-Real Madrid forward having been lined up to take the fifth penalty in the shoot-out.

Spain also beat Portugal at the 2010 World Cup at the last 16 stage, David Villa providing the only goal of the game as Spain one-nilled their way to glory in South Africa.

The Iberian Derby is one of the oldest international match-ups, the first game being staged in 1921. The last time the sides met was in a goalless draw in a friendly in Lisbon last year, with the previous meeting ending 3-3 at the 2018 World Cup.

Spain hold the advantage in the head-to-head stakes with 16 wins for La Roja, seven for Portugal and 15 draws.

Luis Enrique intent on raising Spain's Euro 2021 hopes

EURO 2020

Luis Enrique intent on raising Spain's Euro 2021 hopes

Luis Enrique said it was his duty to raise the expectations of his own players ahead of the Euros while remaining adamant his side have what it takes to win it.

"I have to convince the players but I'm convinced we're going to be very tough to beat. I could be wrong but I believe we're among the six or seven favourite teams to win it."

Unfortunately for Spain, Portugal have one of the more attractive attacking lines in European football at the moment with João Félix, Diogo Jota, Gonçalo Guedes and André Silva all in Fernando Santos' squad for the Euros, not to mention Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva in support.

All eyes will naturally be on Cristiano Ronaldo in Madrid as the Portuguese returns to his former stomping ground. The prolific Portuguese is just six goals away from matching the all-time international scoring record of Iran's Ali Daei, a target the Juventus forward has no doubt set himself for the Euros.

Luis Enrique will be happy enough to keep the former Real Madrid star quiet on Atlético's home turf this evening.

Luis Enrique has spoken in the build-up to the match about what he perceives as a lack of faith and enthusiasm in his largely untested squad for the Euros, and the Spain boss has not shied away from throwing his young charges in at the deep end against the reigning European champions.

Spain vs Portugal: international friendly live

Hello and welcome to AS English's live coverage of the international friendly match between Spain and Portugal from the Metropolitano in Madrid. Kick-off is at 19:30 local time (CEST).