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Portugal play goalless draw with Spain

By The Assam Tribune

LISBON, Oct 8: With fans back in the stands, Portugal and Spain drew 0-0 in an international friendly. Some 2,500 fans attended the match that served as a test for Portuguese authorities and soccer officials to evaluate the possibility of getting supporters back into stadiums amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Portuguese federation filled 5 per cent of the capacity of the Jos Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon. Fans were spread around the stadium and had to sit apart from each other. About 5,000 fans will be allowed in for the national team�s Nations League match against Sweden at the same stadium next Wednesday, or 10 per cent of the venue�s capacity. The European Super Cup final between Bayern Munich and Sevilla in September in Budapest was the first UEFA match with fans amid the pandemic.

There had been high expectations surrounding the duel between Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona�s teenage sensation Ansu Fati, but the 17-year-old Spaniard stayed on the bench throughout the match.

Fati last month became the youngest player to score for Spain in the Nations League match against Ukraine.

The 35-year-old Ronaldo had one of the best scoring chances of the match in the 53rd minute, striking the crossbar with a powerful left-foot shot from inside the area. He also missed with a header from close range just before halftime.

In the 67th, Ronaldo set up a shot by Renato Sanchez that also hit the crossbar. Both Ronaldo�s and Sanchez�s shots bounced near the goal line after striking the woodwork.

Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix, who replaced Ronaldo in the 73rd, nearly gave the hosts the win in stoppage time but whiffed a shot in front of the goal. � AP

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