Despite the fact that Aitana Bonmati was rested due to illness, the world women's football champion Spain started their participation in the European Championship in Switzerland with a 5-0 victory over the Portuguese team, BTA reported.
The Spanish women decided the match by the seventh minute, when they were already leading 2-0 after goals from Esther Gonzalez Rodriguez and Vicky Lopez.
The match was played at the Bern stadium in front of more than 30,000 spectators, and a little earlier in the same group, the Italian team had defeated Belgium 1-0 with a goal by Ariana Caruso at the end of the first half.
The 18-year-old Lopez made a great performance in place of the two-time winner of the "Golden ball" Aitana Bonmati. "We have to be patient with her", said coach Monze Tome of the talent after the success.
Alexia Putejas made it 3-0 in the 41st minute after controlling the ball on her chest and then striking with her left foot. Putejas, who is also the winner of the "Golden Ball" twice, captained in the absence of the injured Irene Paredes.
Shortly before the break, Esther Gonzalez scored her second goal of the match after an assist from Claudia Pina.
The second half was more subdued, with Cristina Martin-Prieto scoring the final goal for Spain in added time.
Both matches on Thursday began with a minute's silence in memory of the tragic deaths of Liverpool's Portuguese striker Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash in Spain.