Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Ronaldo, Renato hit bar as Portugal draw with Spain

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal v Spain - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - October 7, 2020 Portugal's Cristiano during the match REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Portugal had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home to Spain in a heavyweight friendly on Wednesday after hammering the crossbar twice and missing a last-gasp open goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who hit a hat-trick when the two sides met in a thrilling 2018 World Cup group stage game, almost gave the European champions the lead when he sent a shot crashing against the underside of the bar early in the second half.

Midfielder Renato Sanches went even closer moments later with a first-time shot at goal.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal v Spain - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - October 7, 2020 Portugal's Renato Sanches reacts REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

He also hit the bottom of the bar before running away to celebrate, only to see the ball bounce on the goalline without crossing it.

Portugal's most glaring chance was still to come though, when Ruben Semedo headed a corner to the far post towards Joao Felix, who got the weakest of touches and somehow missed the target with the goal gaping in front of him.

Some 2,500 fans watched the game from inside Sporting's Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, which was at 5% capacity, the first elite match in Portugal to allow spectators back in since the coronavirus pandemic began to disrupt world football in March.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal v Spain - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - October 7, 2020 Portugal's Joao Felix in action REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Spain coach Luis Enrique fielded an experimental starting 11, leaving out captain Sergio Ramos and handing a first international start to 19-year-old central defender Eric Garcia while midfielders Dani Ceballos and Sergio Canales also made rare starts for the national team.

Adama Traore and Jose Campana came off the bench in the second half to make their Spain debuts.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal v Spain - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - October 7, 2020 Spain's Sergio Ramos with Portugal's Renato Sanches after the match REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

(Reporting by Richard Martin,; Editing by Toby Davis and Ed Osmond)

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal v Spain - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - October 7, 2020 Portugal's Cristiano reacts REUTERS/Rafael Marchante
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.