Having swept past France to reach the Euro 2012 semi-finals, Spain can expect a more exacting ordeal tonight when they face a Portugal team who beat them 4-0 in their last meeting.
Spain have largely held the upper hand against their Iberian rivals in their head-to-head encounters and they edged Portugal 1-0 in the last 16 en route to their triumph at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
However, Portugal claimed emphatic revenge less than five months later with a four-goal victory in Lisbon that condemned the reigning world and European champions to their heaviest defeat in 47 years.
The teams have changed little since. Nine members of Portugal’s likely starting line-up at Donbass Arena in Donetsk today featured in the game, while Spain are expected to start with eight of the same players.
Cristiano Ronaldo terrorised the Spanish back line at Estadio da Luz two years ago and would have claimed one of the finest goals of his career had Nani not headed his goal-bound shot over the line from an offside position.
The 27-year-old is not short of scores to settle against a team who can call upon five of his Real Madrid colleagues.
After match-winning performances against the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, he is finally making his mark at a major tournament and Spain’s ability to keep him quiet will be pivotal.
The match should provide an intriguing clash of styles, with Spain likely to dominate possession while Portugal await opportunities to spring forward on the counter-attack.
“Portugal will be very difficult,” said Spain’s Cesc Fabregas after Saturday’s 2-0 win over France.
“They have strong individuals and strong players. Apart from their good open play, they are very good on the counter-attack, and we’ll have to work hard.
“They have Ronaldo, Nani, Raul Meireles, Joao Moutinho. They have very good players.”
Spain have lost only three times in 47 competitive matches and are closing in on an unprecedented treble of major honours, but Portugal right-back Joao Pereira says his side can take heart from their own recent form.
“We’re going to keep our own personality because things are going well,” he said.
“We have respect for them, of course, because they’re world and European champions, but we’re not going to give them too much respect because it’s 11 versus 11, and we play good football.”
For the first time at the tournament, Portugal coach Paulo Bento will be obliged to change his starting line-up due to the thigh injury sustained by striker Helder Postiga in Thursday’s 1-0 win over the Czech Republic.
Werder Bremen’s Hugo Almeida is set to deputise, while defenders Pepe and Fabio Coentrao both returned to training after injuries.
Spain reported no new injuries after their victory over France, but coach Vicente del Bosque must decide whether to persevere with Fabregas in the ‘false nine’ role or restore Fernando Torres to his starting XI.
While Spain are gunning to become the first team to win three consecutive major international tournaments, Portugal are aiming to reach a first final since their heartbreaking loss to Greece as hosts of Euro 2004.
The two sides’ records in semi-finals are sharply contrasting.
Spain have never been beaten at this stage and Portugal have won only once in five attempts.
Even the great Eusebio succumbed to the country’s semi-final jinx, with a late penalty not enough to prevent Portugal losing 2-1 to England at the 1966 World Cup.
The 70-year-old will not be present today after being taken ill at Portugal’s team hotel and going to hospital, but he has since been given the all-clear.
Victory for Portugal would be the perfect get-well gift.
Head-to-head
Spain: W17 D12 L6
Portugal: W6 D12 L17
| 17 November 2010 | Portugal vs Spain | 4-0 | (F) |
| 29 June 2010 | Spain vs Portugal | 1-0 | (WC) |
| 20 June 2004 | Portugal vs Spain | 1-0 | (EC) |
| 06 September 2003 | Portugal vs Spain | 0-3 | (F) |
| 13 February 2002 | Spain vs Portugal | 1-1 | (F) |
| 19 January 1994 | Spain vs Portugal | 2-2 | (F) |
| 15 January 1992 | Portugal vs Spain | 0-0 | (F) |
| 16 January 1991 | Spain vs Portugal | 1-1 | (F) |
| 17 June 1984 | Portugal vs Spain | 1-1 | (EC) |
| 20 June 1981 | Portugal vs Spain | 2-0 | (F) |
| 26 September 1979 | Spain vs Portugal | 1-1 | (F) |
| 15 November 1964 | Portugal vs Spain | 2-1 | (F) |
| 13 April 1958 | Spain vs Portugal | 1-0 | (F) |
| 03 June 1956 | Portugal vs Spain | 3-1 | (F) |
| 09 April 1950 | Portugal vs Spain | 2-2 | (WC) |
| 02 April 1950 | Spain vs Portugal | 5-1 | (WC) |
| 20 March 1949 | Portugal vs Spain | 1-1 | (F) |
| 20 March 1948 | Spain vs Portugal | 2-0 | (F) |
| 26 January 1947 | Portugal vs Spain | 4-1 | (F) |
| 06 May 1945 | Spain vs Portugal | 4-2 | (F) |
| 13 March 1945 | Portugal vs Spain | 2-2 | (F) |
| 16 March 1941 | Spain vs Portugal | 5-1 | (F) |
| 12 January 1941 | Portugal vs Spain | 2-2 | (F) |
| 05 May 1935 | Portugal vs Spain | 3-3 | (F) |
| 18 March 1934 | Portugal vs Spain | 1-2 | (WC) |
| 11 March 1934 | Spain vs Portugal | 9-0 | (WC) |
| 02 April 1933 | Spain vs Portugal | 3-0 | (F) |
| 30 November 1930 | Portugal vs Spain | 0-1 | (F) |
| 17 March 1929 | Spain vs Portugal | 5-0 | (F) |
| 10 January 1928 | Portugal vs Spain | 2-2 | (F) |
| 27 May 1927 | Spain vs Portugal | 2-0 | (F) |
| 17 May 1925 | Portugal vs Spain | 0-2 | (F) |
| 16 December 1923 | Spain vs Portugal | 3-0 | (F) |
| 17 December 1922 | Portugal vs Spain | 1-2 | (F) |
| 18 December 1921 | Spain vs Portugal | 3-1 | (F) |
Last two competitive clashes
June 20, 2004 – Portugal 1 - Spain 0
(2004 European Championship group stage)
• Hosts Portugal triumphed in their third and final Group A match to progress to the quarter-finals at Euro 2004 and send Spain crashing out of the competition.
Nuno Gomes scored the game’s only goal in the second half, gathering Luis Figo’s flick and finding the bottom-left corner from 20 yards to give the Selecao their first competitive victory over Spain at the seventh attempt.
Portugal reached the final but were shocked 1-0 by Greece.
June 29, 2010 – Spain 1 - Portugal 0
(2010 World Cup round of 16)
• Portugal had thrashed North Korea 7-0 in the group phase but a 0-0 draw with Brazil sent them into a last-16 meeting with tournament favourites Spain.
Carlos Queiroz’s side came close to taking the lead in the first half but it was Spain who broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute, David Villa racing on to Xavi’s pass and beating goalkeeper Eduardo at the second attempt.
Spain kept Portuguese dangerman Cristiano Ronaldo at bay to complete the first of four consecutive 1-0 wins that would culminate in victory over the Netherlands in the final in Johannesburg on July 11.
Results and fixtures
Quarter-finals
Quarter-final 1: Czech Republic vs Portugal - 0-1
Quarter-final 2: Germany vs Greece - 4-2
Quarter-final 3: Spain vs France - 2-0
Quarter-final 4: England vs Italy - 0-0 (2-4 on penalties)
Semi-finals and final
| Semi-final 1 | Today | Portugal vs Spain | 20.45 |
| Semi-final 2 | June 28 | Germany vs Italy | 20.45 |
| Final | July 1 | Winner semi-final 1 vs Winner semi-final 2 | 20.45 |