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In a pre-European Championship friendly match, Portugal coached by Roberto Martinez defeated Sweden 5-2 in the absence of star attacker Cristiano Ronaldo. Martinez rested the former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker, 39, but his team still cruised to a comfortable victory in Guimaraes.
After the first half, Bruma and Goncalo Ramos increased Portugal’s lead, but Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres and Gustaf Nilsson scored.
In their first game under new manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, Sweden, who failed to reach Euro 2024, were completely awful. Tomasson, a former Denmark international, was appointed in February and became the nation’s first foreign-born coach.
Portugal, the winners of Euro 2016, showed why they are once again considered favourites.
After Bernardo Silva struck the post after 24 minutes, AC Milan winger Leao blasted home the first goal into the top corner.
Nunes, a Manchester City midfielder, scored a fantastic second shortly after, slicing open the defenders and slotting home at the near post.
Nelson Semedo set up the third goal, placing the ball on a plate for Bruno Fernandes to score from close range for his 20th international goal. The fourth goal came from by the Manchester United playmaker, who set up Bruma for a simple finish.
Gyokeres, the leading scorer for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, gave Sweden a quick response, but Goncalo Ramos was quick to react at the opposite end, demonstrating Portugal’s razor-sharp counterattacking skills.
Sweden scored one in stoppage time when towering striker Nilsson headed in Dejan Kulusevski’s cross. Portugal, which has won all ten of its Euro 2024 qualifying matches, will face Slovenia in another friendly on Tuesday.
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