Ronaldo denied by post in Spain draw
Portugal had to stay for a 0-0 draw at home to Spain in a heavyweight friendly on Wednesday after hammering the crossbar twice and missing a last-gasp open goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who hit a hat-trick when the two sides met in an exciting 2018 World Cup group stage game, almost gave the European champions the lead when he sent a shot crashing against the lower of the bar early in the next half.
Midfielder Renato Sanches went even closer occasions later with a first-time shot at goal.
He also hit underneath of the bar before running away to celebrate, and then start to see the ball bounce on the goalline without crossing it.
Portugal's most glaring chance was still to come though, when Ruben Semedo headed a corner to the far post towards Joao Felix, who got the weakest of touches and somehow missed the prospective with the target gaping in front of him.
Some 2,500 fans watched the game from inside Sporting's Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, that was at 5% capacity, the first elite match in Portugal to permit spectators back in because the coronavirus pandemic started out to disrupt world football in March.
Spain coach Luis Enrique fielded an experimental starting 11, leaving out captain Sergio Ramos and handing an initial international learn to 19-year-old central defender Eric Garcia while midfielders Dani Ceballos and Sergio Canales also made rare starts for the national team.
Adama Traore and Jose Campana came off the bench in the next half to make their Spain debuts.
