The Spanish selection faces this Wednesday, in the José Alvalade of Lisbon (20.45 h./La1), a demanding test against the Portugal of Cristiano Ronaldo. The spotlights will return to focus on Ansu Fati, the young star of the Barça and the Red. At 17 'springs' and with just 135 minutes as a player in the absolute, he already challenges other renowned stars who are twice his age as CR7, who at 35 is still the undisputed leader of the Portuguese team. Both will fight an attractive generational duel.
Ansu's nerve in agony draw in Germany (1-1) and in the 4-0 to a Ukraine, in which the canterano culé became the youngest scorer in the history of La Roja, confirms that he is a different player from the one he will measure Portugal, current champion of Europe and the Nations League. The Iberian derby will be a test bed for Spain in the face of its two immediate Nations League duels against Switzerland (Saturday October 10) and Ukraine (Tuesday, October 13).
From the beginning in attack, along with Ansu Fati, will presumably be the Villarreal scorer and national scorer of the last League, Gerard Moreno, and the exazulgrana Adama Traoré. The robust but speedy Wolves winger hopes his dream of making his senior national team debut will come true today. It will be the third attempt after an injury and the coronavirus, which prevented its premiere previously.
Luis Enrique has advanced that it will introduce variations. Among the possibilities are the debut of José Campaña or the reappearances of Sergio Canales or Dani Ceballos, the other two novelties on the list. The Covid-19, however, will prevent Thiago Alcantara align tonight with the Red and in Naples he has had to remain confined Fabian Ruiz.
The coronavirus also affects the Portuguese team, which arrives at the appointment with two casualties compared to the initial call for Fernando Santos, both on the defensive line. Mario Rui He fell off the list because he could not leave Italy due to the cases that are in his team, Naples, and Jose Fonte (Lille) dropped out of the rally after testing positive. Absences will be covered by Nuno sequeira (Sporting de Braga) and Sundays Duarte (Granada), which could debut with Portugal after having entered previous lists.
At the offensive level, Fernando Santos has more than enough gunpowder with Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Diogo Jota, recently signed by Liverpool, or the Barça attacker Francisco Trincao.
The last precedent between Spain and Portugal dates from Russia World Cup 2018, when both teams tied at three goals in the group stage. Christian signed a 'hat-trick' and La Roja's goals were the work of the colchonero Diego Costa (2) and the madridista Nacho.
(+) You can follow the game minute by minute on the MD website
Probable lineups
Portugal: Anthony Lopes; Joao Cancelo, Rúben Semedo, Rúben Dias, Raphaël Guerreiro; Joao Moutinho, Danilo Pereira, Renato Sanches; Trincão, Joao Félix and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Spain: Kepa; Sergi Roberto, Sergio Ramos, Pau Torres, Gayá; Busquets, Mikel Merino, Dani Ceballos; Adama Traoré, Gerard Moreno and Ansu Fati.
Referee: Paolo Valeri (Italy)
Stadium: José Alvalade of Lisbon
Time / TV: 20:45 (La1)