In a friendly match ahead of the European Championships, Roberto Martinez’s Portugal displayed a dominant performance, defeating Sweden 5-2, despite resting talisman striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite Ronaldo’s absence, the Portuguese team, led by Martinez, secured a comfortable victory in Guimaraes.
The hosts, Portugal, saw goals from Rafael Leao, Matheus Nunes, and Bruno Fernandes in the first half, showcasing their offensive prowess.
After the break, Bruma and Goncalo Ramos added to Portugal’s lead, while Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres and Gustav Nilsson managed to find the net for their team.
Under the leadership of new coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, Sweden’s performance faltered, marking a disappointing start to his tenure.
Portugal, the champions of Euro 2016, demonstrated their strength and depth, positioning themselves as strong contenders for this year’s tournament.
AC Milan winger Leao initiated the scoring with a powerful shot into the top corner, followed by Nunes’ clinical finish and Fernandes’ close-range goal.
The Portuguese team continued to dominate, with Bruma and Ramos extending the lead, showcasing their proficiency in counter-attacking play.
While Sweden managed to pull one back through Gyokeres, Portugal swiftly responded with another goal from Ramos, highlighting their efficiency upfront.
Despite a late effort from debutant Jota Silva, Portugal settled for a 5-2 victory, with Sweden finding a consolation goal in stoppage time.
Portugal’s flawless qualifying campaign for Euro 2024, winning all ten matches, underscores their strength as they prepare to face Slovenia in their next friendly.
