SPAIN SHINE IN CAMPAIGN OPENER AGAINST PORTUGAL
As one of the tournament favourites, it was hard to imagine Spain would not win this opening fixture against neighbours, Portugal.
Although Portugal might not have expected the match to begin so ruthlessly as Esther Gonzalez opened scoring in the second minute.
If that looked too easy, teenager Vicky Lopez doubled the advantage just five minutes later, latching onto Mariona Caldentey’s cross.
Alexia Putellas put Spain three goals to the good, tapping in another Caldentey cross in the 41st minute, with Gonzalez bagging her second two minutes later.
Jessica Silva put in a shift for Portugal, but could not convert her efforts into anything tangible, as their counter-attack strategy failed at every turn.
They looked more solid in the second half, though it would be fair to say Spain had appeared to take their feet off the gas, having gone four goals up in the first.
But it was not over for the world champions as sub Cristina Martin-Prieto found the net during injury time.
It was perhaps unfortunate for Portugal to find themselves up against such class acts in their tournament opener, and they face Italy next.
Meanwhile, Spain showed a clear intention to bag a title that has eluded them thus far.
