Turkey and Portugal both started their Euro 2024 campaign in the best possible way, with victories over Georgia and the Czech Republic respectively.

This clash between the two nations at the top of Group F is about first place in the group after the tie between Georgia and the Czech Republic this Saturday afternoon .

If Cristiano Ronaldo opened the debate with a volley that was too weak and easily caught by the Turkish goalkeeper, it was Vincenzo Montella’s men who created the first big chance of the game. On a pinpoint cross from the right by Ayhan, Akturkoglu was in the right place but failed to place his header, which was finally pushed away by Pepe.

During the first half, the Portuguese patiently settled into the Turkish camp. Without however managing to be dangerous. It was finally necessary to wait until the 21st minute of play for the first big Portuguese opportunity… and the first goal of the match! Mendes overflowed on his left flank before crossing low into the area. Following a small deflection, the ball arrived at the feet of Bernardo Silva, who had no trouble finishing (0-1, 21st).

Nothing was going well for Turkey, who made a series of mistakes and were no longer able to get out of their own half. Even when the Portuguese lacked precision, they were well helped by the Turkish defense . On a bad pass from Cancelo, Akaydin recovered the ball. The defender wanted to play with his goalkeeper by passing him back but the latter had advanced into his rectangle and the ball slowly went into the Turkish goal despite Celik’s intervention (0-2, 28th).

The Turks tried to react but Diogo Costa was alert to an incursion by Akturkoglu on the half-hour mark and then a long-range strike by Kökcu five minutes before the break.

After the break, Roberto Martinez decided to rotate his squad by bringing on Neves and Neto in place of Palhinha and Leao. With a two-goal lead, the Portuguese controlled the match by monopolizing the ball. But it was the Turks who created the first opportunity after the break with a long-range shot from Yazici easily caught by Costa.

But on the first Portuguese chance, Roberto Martinez’s gang hit the target again. A long ball from Cancelo sent Cristiano Ronaldo deep. Alone in front of the goalkeeper in the box, CR7 passed the ball to his left to Bruno Fernandes who sent the ball into the back of the net from the empty goal (0-3, 56th).

Ten minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo, all alone in the small rectangle, screwed his header on a perfect cross from Bernardo Silva. Completely overwhelmed, the Turks were unable to bring danger in front of Diogo Costa’s goal.