Spain 1-1 Portugal LIVE! Horta goal - Nations League result, match stream and latest updates today

Spain vs Portugal LIVE!

The 2022/23 Nations League got underway with an Iberian derby in Seville to savour tonight.

Goals by strikers Alvaro Morata and Ricardo Horta led to a 1-1 draw between Spain and Portugal in their Nations League opener at Estadio Benito Villamarin on Thursday.

Morata put Spain ahead from close range in the League A Group Two match following a fine passing movement involving midfielders Gavi and Pablo Sarabia in the 25th minute.

Substitute Horta equalised for Portugal eight minutes from time, leaving the Spanish defence behind as he latched on to a precise cross from defender Joao Cancelo inside the area and placed a shot into the middle of Unai Simon's goal.

It was the fourth consecutive draw in games between Spain, runners-up in the last Nations League, and Portugal, champions in its inaugural edition. Their last two friendly meetings finished goalless.

Keep up to date with all the action via Standard Sport’s live blog...

Spain vs Portugal highlights

• How to watch

• GOAL! Morata opens the scoring

• GOAL! Horta levels off the bench

Match report

22:24 , Marc Mayo

Thanks for joining our live coverage of Spain versus Portugal tonight!

We will be back tomorrow with Belgium taking on the Netherlands...

Recap the derby draw with our match report.

Spain boss Luis Enrique gives his take

22:14 , Marc Mayo

“We are going to use all the players this month. I liked all of them today, including the fans. Portugal are one of the best teams in the world. Ansu Fati is coming to help us in the long term, but I think he still doesn't have the rhythm necessary for competition and we're not going to take risks, especially with him.”

Recap: Portugal hit late leveller

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Around the grounds

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Cesar Azpilicueta gives his instant reaction

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“It was a tough game, Portugal are a very complete side. There could have been more goals, but the result is what it is. We're still in a good place, but we are self-critical and we have to improve. We always try to play the same way. We have to recover and think about Sunday's game in Prague.”

What a moment for Ricardo Horta

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A debut in 2014, eight years out of the Portuguese national team, a recall and a first goal off the bench.

Game recap: The opener

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Full time!

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Olmo whips a long-range effort high and wide - and that is that!

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90+3 mins: Pepe booked because of course.

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90+2 mins: Alba bombs into the box with a trademark run down the left channel yet his low cross is picked off delightfully by Danilo.

The defender leads Portugal’s counter which is ended by Busquets. That’s a booking.

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90 mins: We have three minutes added on.

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89 mins: Portugal deal with a dangerous Spanish set-piece after a poor challenge by Guerreiro.

21:29 , Marc Mayo

86 mins: WHAT A MISS!

How are Spain not ahead?! Costa palms a cross weakly clear and Alba is completely free, with the goal gaping, to head home...

He puts it wide. Wow.

21:27 , Marc Mayo

83 mins: Straight up the other end come Spain with Matheus booked for the visitors to kick off a string of set plays.

GGGOOOOOAAALLLL!!! Spain 1-1 Portugal | Horta

21:24 , Marc Mayo

81 mins: Spain fall asleep as Cancelo scampers down the right, and Horta sticks away the leveller unmarked in the box!

21:24 , Marc Mayo

81 mins: Off comes Gavi and the 17-year-old gets a raucous reception from the Seville fans. Marcos Llorente is his replacement.

Matheus on for Fernandes in Portugal’s latest change.

21:21 , Marc Mayo

78 mins: So much Spanish comfort on the ball with Koke adding to the elegance of Gavi, the Barcelona teenager who has really stood out tonight.

A Spain team with Gavi and Pedri at the centre of things for years to come is a tad scary for anyone not of a Roja persuasion!

21:18 , Marc Mayo

74 mins: Sarabia the latest to come forward for Spain and he cuts inside with a one-track mind to shoot, and drills a shot low and wide of the near-post.

Can the hosts grab the second goal to kill the game?

A stoppage in play first though as Ronaldo has his hands all over Azpilicueta. Just a foul, no cards.

21:14 , Marc Mayo

72 mins: We have another yellow card - Llorente this time for clattering into the back of Silva.

Fernando Santos turns to his bench again with Horta on for Leao.

21:13 , Marc Mayo

70 mins: De Tomas replaces Morata for his third Spain cap, the Espanyol striker very much a new man on the scene after his exploits in LaLiga this year.

21:10 , Marc Mayo

67 mins: More than a hint of the direct about Spain in recent moments as another ball over the top reaches Alba, who flies a volley into the side-netting from a tight angle.

There is certainly a second goal in this game, and the hosts are perhaps the favourites to get it.

21:07 , Marc Mayo

64 mins: The locals boo Ronaldo as he gets involved for the first time before Spain launch an attack, Morata rushing in down the right channel and shooting first time.

It’s a poor connection and his effort rolls harmlessly wide.

21:05 , Marc Mayo

61 mins: Here come the substitutes.

Olmo and Koke are off the bench for Spain, Soler and Torres coming off.

For Portugal, Ronaldo enters the fray alongside Guedes. Andre Silva and Otavio are replaced.

21:02 , Marc Mayo

59 mins: CHANCE!

Brilliant from Portugal as Andre Silva rushes forward, lays in Leao who sends one defender for an ice cream before his second touch is loose and his effort is turned wide by Simon.

It should really be 1-1.

21:00 , Marc Mayo

58 mins: Cristiano Ronaldo is getting ready to come on...

20:58 , Marc Mayo

54 mins: Gavi looks to break through and is surely pulled back by Otavio before losing the ball, which is nonetheless played on before a similarly cynical challenge ends a Portuguese move.

Michael Oliver has been a busy man tonight, I guess you can’t blame him for missing one.

20:54 , Marc Mayo

52 mins: Nice from Bernardo Silva with a flat cross in-swinging from the right, flicked on cutely by Pepe for Danilo to challenge at the far-post.

Busquets hacks clear and the corner doesn’t beat the first man.

20:53 , Marc Mayo

50 mins: Gavi has been the man to watch and once again he strides forward after nicking the ball by the halfway line.

Morata’s cross deflects onto Danilo from point-blank range, and although his arm is away from his side there is no way that can be a penalty. VAR has a look, and agrees.

20:51 , Marc Mayo

48 mins: Portugal sitting on possession early on to wrestle back some impetus. It has been tough to get Leao and Andre Silva fully involved in the box though.

Kick-off!

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The second-half begins in Seville with Neves on for Portugal, replacing booked Wolves teammate Moutinho.

Over in Prague...

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Around the grounds

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It’s all level in the other game in this group between Czech Republic and Switzerland.

Erling Haaland has put Norway in front while Greece lead Northern Ireland in Belfast.

Recap the opener

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Half-time! Spain 1-0 Portugal

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Just one minute added on, which comes and goes after Otavio goes down to ask Michael Oliver for a penalty. Nothing doing and that is the half!

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44 mins: Pepe lumps a shot from 35 yards that flies into the stands. That should be the most ambitious attempt of the night. If it isn’t, I can’t wait to see what is.

20:26 , Marc Mayo

41 mins: Sarabia swings in a left-footer towards the near-post - but it is always high and a bit wide.

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39 mins: Another Portuguese booking as Torres produces some lovely skill to turn goalwards and finds Bernardo Silva’s flying studs in his path. No doubt with that one, either.

Spain stand over a free-kick some 35 yards out, which goes short and wins another set-piece off Moutinho only 20 yards out.

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36 mins: Michael Oliver dishes a yellow card for a strongly cycnical foul by Sarabai on Otavio by the sideline, to quash a counter attack.

20:20 , Marc Mayo

34 mins: Close!

Lovely ball by Otavio to pick out Andre Silva’s run into the box. Simon rushes off his line, pretty needlessly, and the striker’s hasty shot is drilled wide of the far post.

Plenty of life in this game.

20:19 , Marc Mayo

33 mins: Portugal’s pressure game is growing and Soler commits a foul on the edge of the box.

In comes the out-swinging ball from Guerreiro which Silva did catch up with at the back stick, although the Selecao fail to create a fresh cross and Spain send it clear.

20:15 , Marc Mayo

29 mins: HUGE CHANCE!

Gavi again at the centre of Spain’s creativity and Soler gets on the end of a low cross, placing his effort at Costa. The ball comes back to the midfielder, who simply has to score... but puts it over!

20:14 , Marc Mayo

28 mins: A big test for Portugal who had had the best chance of the game through Leao until that moment, but Spain look the better side since the goal.

With 15 minutes to go until the break, there is no reason Spain cannot take advantage of their visitors’ lack of concentration to go two up.

GGGOOOOOAAALLLL!! Spain 1-0 Portugal | Morata

20:10 , Marc Mayo

25 mins: Spain have the lead!

Fernandes misses his challenge on Gavi and the midfielder rolls the ball forward with a lovely pass to Sarabia. From there it’s a simple lay-off for Morata, who finishes and VAR gives the green light from a check for offside!

Around the grounds

20:10 , Marc Mayo

We have an opener in the other game of this group as Czech Republic lead Switzerland in Prague through a Jan Kuchta goal.

In fact, that is the only goal in the six 7.45pm kick-offs in the Nations League.

20:07 , Marc Mayo

21 mins: We’ve seen our fair share of niggling fouls already with Alba delivering the latest on Otavio by the halfway line. It certainly has been one for the defences.

Portugal almost find Fernandes breaking into the box via a long ball but the Manchester United man cannot force a shooting chance.

20:05 , Marc Mayo

19 mins: A first real threat from the visitors but Leao fails to hit the target from a good position.

Can either side grab a goal to open up this game?

20:02 , Marc Mayo

16 mins: Better from Spain as Soler breaks the line to pick up a Torres flick, although Pepe rushes over for a no-nonsense hoof clear.

A short corner comes back to Alba but that’s a poor loft in, easy for Costa.

19:58 , Marc Mayo

12 mins: Sarabia attempts to kick Spain through the gears with a long crossfield ball from the left that Torres cannot catch up to, the ball rolling out for a goal kick. Just that lack of precision in this game at the moment.

19:55 , Marc Mayo

9 mins: Both teams guilty of surrendering possession in their own final third so far and yet neither can build on it, lacking that sharpness is danger areas.

19:52 , Marc Mayo

6 mins: An early break in play for Pepe to receive some attention from the referee, after Morata casually landed a shoulder on the veteran while jogging past. A pre-emptive taste of his own medicine, there.

19:49 , Marc Mayo

4 mins: Poor from Costa as he goes up for the corner against Torres, and comes up second best!

Portugal scramble it away and win a foul to defuse the early pressure.

19:48 , Marc Mayo

3 mins: The typical slow build-up of Spain up against the typical low press of Portugal early on and the ball is worked into the box, falling to Gavi for a hit. It deflects only a yard wide...

Kick-off!

19:47 , Marc Mayo

After the obligatory camera shot of Ronaldo on the bench, Portugal get the ball rolling in Seville.

19:43 , Marc Mayo

A huge roar greets the end of the Spanish anthem inside the roughly two-thirds-full Benito Villamarin.

Kick-off is coming up!

19:41 , Marc Mayo

The players are out, led by referee Michael Oliver... and the national anthems begin!

Not a great reception for the Portuguese anthem from the Sevilla locals, it must be said.

Just five minutes until kick-off!

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Luis Enrique has told his Spain players to take tonight’s match seriously with victory in the Nations League tournament their objective, and potentially starting with a win over Portugal.

He said: “We know each other well, they are very well organised. You only have to look at what their players cost and on top of that they have recently won important titles.

“That motivates us. In the previous two games against them we could have lost and won both.”

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Portugal boss Fernando Santos took aim at the Nations League calendar ahead of the match.

He told reporters: “The schedule is clearly over the top. Four games in 10 days, not during a season, I've never seen it, not even in championships. We are going to play after a highly exhausting season. We have to be very careful to have the players well

Before making three changes for this match, dropping Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota and Nuno Mendes, he added: “There will not be many changes for the first game, maybe one or two compared to the games we played against Turkey and Macedonia.”

Both our Liverpool stars tonight - left on the bench

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Here’s a stat to look out for tonight...

Cristiano Ronaldo has missed plenty of games for Portugal in recent years but has only come off the bench as a substitute twice in over a decade - both of which came against Andorra.

The last time he came off the bench for his country against a team other than the Pyrenean minnows was against Mozambique on August 6, 2010!

The fans make their way into the stadium

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Tonight’s venue

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Seville’s Estadio Benito Villamarin, the home of Real Betis, plays host to this encounter.

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It was a while ago when Spain last played, meaning the changes from their friendly with Iceland are not too significant.

However, Unai Simon staying in goal shows his continued No1 spot in Luis Enrique’s mind.

Carlos Soler in midfielder, Alvaro Morata leading the line and the full-back duo of Cesar Azpilicueta and Jordi Alba also keep their spots.

Aymeric Laporte and Eric Garcia miss out due to a knock and illness, respectively.

18:48 , Marc Mayo

A surprise in the Selecao’s line-up with NO Cristiano Ronaldo to be seen.

It is nonetheless a very attacking setup with Rafael Leao and Andre Silva leading the line, assisted by Bruno Fernandes, Otavio and Bernardo Silva.

How Portugal will line up in Seville...

18:39 , Marc Mayo

Portugal XI: Costa; Cancelo, Danilo, Pepe, Guerreiro; Otavio, Moutinho, Fernandes, B. Silva; Leao, A. Silva.

Subs: Patricio, R. Silva, Carmo, Duarte, Dalot, Mendes, Palhinha, Nunes, Neves, Vitinha, Carvalho, Ronaldo, Jota, Guedes, Horta.

How the hosts line up tonight...

18:33 , Marc Mayo

Spain XI: Simon; Azpilicueta, D. Llorente, Torres, Alba; Soler, Busquets, Gavi; Torres, Morata, Sarabia.

Subs: Raya, Sanchez, Carvajal, Martinez, Alonso, M. Llorente, Rodri, Olmo, Asensio, Fati, De Tomas.

Have a gander at tonight’s match ball

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The atmosphere is building in Seville!

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Head to head record

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Spain wins: 17

Draws: 15

Portugal wins: 6

Around the grounds

18:09 , Marc Mayo

A handful of lower division games are already underway as part of a busy schedule tonight.

Evening Standard score prediction

18:04 , Marc Mayo

For two sides with so much attacking talent, the most recent meetings have not been particularly entertaining.

It’s finished goalless the last two times the teams have played each other, thought there was that classic 3-3 draw at the 2018 World Cup.

With plenty of tired legs at the end of a long club season, and the Nations League not a massive priority at this stage, it’s probably reasonable to expect a more low-key affair this time.

Draw, 1-1.

18:00 , Marc Mayo

For Portugal, there is no Ruben Dias in the squad as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Diogo Jota should feature less than a week on from his involvement in Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, while Cristiano Ronaldo is almost certain to make his 187th international appearance.

Early team news

17:56 , Marc Mayo

David de Gea will not be featuring after he missed out on the Spain squad completely - Brighton’s Robert Sanchez and Brentford’s David Raya were both preferred.

Aymeric Laporte withdrew from the squad last week due to a knee problem, while Pedri is also out with injury. Alvaro Morata is expected to lead the line for the Spanish side.

How to watch

17:48 , Marc Mayo

TV channel: Spain vs Portugal will be shown live on Premier Sports 2. It currently costs £9.99 for a monthly subscription in the UK.

Live stream: Premier Sports subscribers will also be able to watch the game online via the Premier Player on mobile and tablet devices.

Good evening!

16:57 , Marc Mayo

Welcome to Standard Sport’s coverage of Spain versus Portugal!

The 2022/23 Nations League is in full swing with these two set for a big opening game in Seville.

Join us for all the build-up, match action and reaction...