Spain asked for gunpowder at the Mote Castro quarry in Braga. And it was put by Álvaro Morata, whose goal put Spain in the Final Four of the Nations League and ended the bad streak of the Spanish team on Portuguese soil, where they had not won in 19 years.
Portugal has faced Spain the most times, 40. The balance of the Iberian duel, Spain is clearly in their favor, with seventeen wins, seventeen draws and six losses, 77 goals for and 45 against, but they do It. it is true that he is a rival who has run aground in recent times.
Furthermore, it was Luis Enrique’s first victory against a border rival and he did it in a spectacular setting. An architectural gem built in 2003 for the European Championship in 2004. With a capacity of around 30,000 people, the stadium was adapted inside a quarry and had no funds. It only has stands on the sides and each of them has its own cover. Both are connected to each other by dozens of steel cables. A unique setting, the work of architect Eduardo Souto and in 2011 he won the prestigious Pritzker architecture prize.
A rival choked
La Roja beat their neighbors for the last time on September 6, 2003 in a friendly played at the Alfonso Henriques de Guimaraes stadium, just 16 kilometers from Braga, when they went down 0-3. Spain shined and won with goals from Joseba Etxeberria, Joaquín Sánchez and Diego Tristán. In that Portugal, to put it into context, Figo, Rui Costa or the legendary former Barça player Fernando Couto played. It rained a lot.
What’s more: the Spanish team has not beaten Portugal since the round of 16 match at the World Cup in South Africa, when they won 1-0 with a goal from David Villa. Despite this, it should be noted that the Spanish eliminated the Portuguese in the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 semifinal after recording 0-0 in regulation time. In 2018, another draw in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
And it was Braga that reached five consecutive draws between both teams. The latest, the 1-1 of the current Nations League at the Benito Villamarín stadium in Seville.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
