Portugal breaks Spain's streak and lifts the Nations League on penalties

Spain could not revalidate the title of the UEFA Nations League and fell on penalties against Portugal (2-2, 5-3 p.). Despite going into the break at a disadvantage, the Portuguese forced extra time, where Diogo Costa was a hero by stopping the fourth penalty of the series.

In their fourth consecutive continental final (third in the Nations League), La Roja failed to maintain their European hegemony in a match where they had more possession. Spain was better in the first half, but Portugal reacted in the second half.

In extra time there was not too much strength or clarity in both teams to break the tie, product of the fatigue of an inclement season. In the penalties, Portugal prevailed by 5-3, with Álvaro Morata failing in the series for La Roja.

Spain, to the rhythm of Pedri, went with advantage to the rest

Pedri González had the first clear chance for La Roja in the 16th minute, with a placed shot that went slightly wide. The Canary Islander had received a good pass from Nico Williams from the left, the side where Portugal suffered the most in the first half.

With the Barça midfielder setting the tempo of the match, in the 21st minute the scoring would be opened thanks to a goal by Martín Zubimendi. The Basque led a lethal start, gave way to Lamine Yamal and, after the '19's chipped cross, the ball was loose near the small area. Free of mark, the Real Sociedad youth player defined at will before Diogo Costa.

Portugal reacted quickly with a goal from Nuno Mendes in the 26th minute, in a controversial action preceded by a possible previous offside of Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite the blow, Spain maintained control of possession and, just before the break, Pedri rubbed the lamp to return the advantage to the Selección.

After an error in the start of Bernardo Silva, Le Normand gave the ball to the Tenerife player, who waited for the diagonal of Mikel Oyarzabal to filter a perfect pass that the Basque striker defined to a touch before the departure of Costa.

Cristiano Ronaldo equalized the final in the complement

Cristiano Ronaldo, celebrating the equalizing goal with Portugal

After the break, Portugal took control of the match, pressing much higher with Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva. The Manchester United midfielder made the partial 2-2 in the 50th minute, but the goal was disallowed for a previous offside of Neto.

Nine minutes later, the Portuguese would consummate the tie with a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. In the 61st minute, the '7' appeared behind Cucurella to catch a cross from Nuno Mendes that dislodged the centrals, previous deviation in Mingueza.

The income of Rúben Neves and Nelson Semedo by Joao Neves and Francisco Conceiçao gave greater depth to those of Roberto Martínez after the break. Spain, on the other hand, took time to wake up in the complement.

With a quarter of an hour to go, Luis de la Fuente put Isco and Mikel Merino for Pedro and Fabián Ruiz, while the Portuguese also had Rafael Leao and Renato Veiga for Bernardo and Gonçalo Inácio.

Just in the 77', Lamine Yamal had his first opportunity to take a whiplash from the side, bagged without problems by Diogo Costa. Isco warned with a shot from medium distance that demanded the Portuguese goalkeeper, who minutes before had requested medical assistance.

About the end, who did have to leave by a muscular puncture was Cristiano, leaving his place in the field to Gonçalo Ramos. However, the decisive clash in Munich had to be defined in extra time.

The penalties gave the Nations League to Portugal

At the beginning of the first half of extra time, De la Fuente put Pedro Porro and Álex Baena for Mingueza and Nico Williams. Semedo was close to the third, but finished clumsily a good cross from Nuno Mendes from the left. 

Lamine starred in the only approach of La Roja just before the break, with another distant shot without complications for Diogo Costa. It was the last of the '19' of Barça in the match, since Yéremy Pino entered for him in the second part.

Spain improved slightly in the final quarter of an hour, where Morata also entered for Oyarzabal, but the physical wear weighed on both teams. Dani Olmo, Gavi, Fermín López and Pau Cubarsí stayed on the bench. Beyond this, the match had to be resolved in the penalties.

In the decisive series, Portugal began kicking. After three successful shots per side, Álvaro Morata failed the fourth of the series for Spain, while the Portuguese had 100% efficiency. Rúben Dias made the fifth and decisive, with which those of Roberto Martínez raise their second Nations League.