Portugal 0-1 Spain LIVE! Morata seals late win - Nations League result, match stream and latest updates today

Alvaro Morata struck late to send Spain into the Nations League semi-finals at the expense of group leaders Portugal on an entertaining night in Braga.

The hosts needed only a point after the complexion of the group had changed following their win over Czech Republic and Spain’s loss to Switzerland last time out, looking good value for it for much of the game.

While the away side saw plenty of the ball, a lack of incision saw the game largely played in front of a resolute Portuguese defence. Still, even despite the attacking talent on the pitch, this was a game of few genuine clear-cut chances.

The best of them came to both Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo. The latter, perhaps due to a lack of consistent game time at Manchester United squandered a number of opportunities, striking Unai Simon when through on goal.

Morata, not exactly the most fearsome striker on the planet, did manage to prove clinical at the death. Following the introduction of Nico Williams, Spain exploited gaps in the home side’s backline and it was the youngster’s header into Morata’s path that set-up the goal, a powerful finish from inside the 6-yard box with an open goal at his mercy.

Portugal vs Spain

• GOAL! Morata fires away side ahead

• Kick-off time and venue: Estádio Municipal de Braga, 7.45pm BST

• TV channel: BoxNation

• Prediction: 1-1 draw

• Confirmed Portugal lineup

• Confirmed Spain lineup

FT: Portugal 0-1 Spain

21:40 , Jonathan Gorrie

Spain have done it!

They are heading for the final four.

Time running out

21:39 , Jonathan Gorrie

94:00 - Some desperate balls into the box now, which come to nothing.

Into added time

21:35 , Jonathan Gorrie

90:00 - Ronaldo goes close with a snapshot as Portugal chase a point!

GOAL! Portugal 0-1 Spain | Alvaro Morata ‘87

21:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

87:00 - Wow!

Williams heads down a diagonal into Morata’s path and fires home with ease.

CHANCE FOR SPAIN!

21:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

84:00 - Another brilliant bit of play from Williams, finding Morata with a cutback but the Spanish forward cannot connect properly.

CHANE FOR SPAIN

21:18 , Jonathan Gorrie

73:00 - Nico Williams, on for Morata, goes the closest Spain have come so far but Costa saves his curling shot.

CHANCE FOR PORTUGAL

21:14 , Jonathan Gorrie

68:00 - Goalmouth scramble results in Dias get a shot off, with Carvajal clearing over the bar.

Brilliant from Nuno Mendes

21:09 , Jonathan Gorrie

64:00 - Amazing footwork from the PSG star leaves 3 defenders in his wake, though Spain eventually clear their lines.

Getting scrappy

20:59 , Jonathan Gorrie

54:00 - The quality has certainly dropped of late, with both teams guilty of giving the ball away cheaply.

Spain cannot get out

20:54 , Jonathan Gorrie

49:00 - Morata, pretty much Spain’s only out-ball, cannot make the ball stick whenever the defenders punt it up to him to relieve some pressure.

CHANCE FOR PORTUGAL!

20:51 , Jonathan Gorrie

46:00 - Ronaldo through on goal after brilliant work from Jota, though the Portugal captain shoots straight at Simon.

Back underway!

20:50 , Jonathan Gorrie

45:00 - Busquets on for Guillamon, with Rodri dropping into central defence for Spain.

Elsewhere in the Nations League

20:37 , Jonathan Gorrie

HT: Portugal 0-0 Spain

20:34 , Jonathan Gorrie

As it stands, Portugal are heading for the final four!

Spain moving the ball better

20:28 , Jonathan Gorrie

40:00 - Some of the kind of passing that took Spain to the ultimate glory over a decade ago on show at the moment, with triangles emerging all over the final third.

Unlike in those days, however, a lack of an imposing central striker looks a major problem.

CHANCE FOR PORTUGAL

20:24 , Jonathan Gorrie

36:00 - Half the crowd think Fernandes has scored, similar to the Raheem Sterling moment at the 2014 World Cup.

His stunning strike, however, hits the side netting.

CHANCE FOR PORTUGAL

20:20 , Jonathan Gorrie

30:00 - Stunning cross-field ball from Fernandes finds Jota, who brings the ball down brilliantly with a deft first touch in the box, before shooting at Simon.

The resulting corner is cleared with relative ease.

Portugal counter

20:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

27:00 - The problem with Portugal at the Euros is that, for a counter attacking team, they were far too easy to play against.

As a team, they look much better defensively.

CHANCE FOR PORTUGAL

20:08 , Jonathan Gorrie

21:00 - Cancelo gets in-behind but Ronaldo heads wide!

Nundo Mendes vs Ferran Torres

20:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

18:00 - Really good battle, with the PSG defender currently coming out on top.

Really good tempo

19:57 , Jonathan Gorrie

14:00 - Clearly, Spain need to win the game so are forcing the issue, though the Portuguese are playing their part. Hardly the most exciting of teams, the home side are causing issues on the counter.

CHANCE FOR SPAIN

19:54 , Jonathan Gorrie

09:00 - Sarabia wins the ball back in the Portugal box but fires straight at the ‘keeper from a good position.

Spain growing

19:54 , Jonathan Gorrie

08:00 - Spain getting on the ball in more dangerous at the moment, with Torres and Morata interchanging, looking to drag their markers out of position.

CHANCE FOR PORTUGAL

19:51 , Jonathan Gorrie

05:00 - Spain’s high line caught out from a free-kick, with Danilo heading across for Ronaldo, who is forced to turn and swivel but hits the ball over the bar.

Portugal go route one

19:48 , Jonathan Gorrie

01:00 - A long ball up to Jota almost catches Spain out early on, though Carvajal heads back to Simon.

Kick-off

19:47 , Jonathan Gorrie

We’re underway in Braga as Spain and Portugal battle it out for a place in the final four!

Anthems underway

19:42 , Jonathan Gorrie

A place in the final four awaits...

19:27 , Jonathan Gorrie

19:23 , Jonathan Gorrie

A reminder of what’s at stake

19:21 , Jonathan Gorrie

19:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

A daunting task for Spain

18:55 , Jonathan Gorrie

Despite their dominance over the years on the international front, Spain have not beaten Portugal away from home in a competitive since March 1934.

Spain’s new great hope

18:42 , Jonathan Gorrie

Confirmed Spain lineup

18:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

Spain XI (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Guillamon, Torres, Gaya; Rodri, Soler, Koke; Torres, Morata, Sarabia

Confirmed Portugal lineup

18:29 , Jonathan Gorrie

Portugal XI (4-3-3): Costa; Cancelo, Danilo, Dias, Mendes; Carvalho, Neves, Fernandes; Ronaldo, Jota, Silva

18:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

Pablo Sarabia: Spain can beat Portugal

18:11 , Jonathan Gorrie

The Spain midfielder told UEFA, “Tomorrow is a final for us. We want to be in the finals. We know Portugal’s potential. We have prepared well. Any group game brings huge difficulty. It’s good; it makes us improve our competitiveness and helps us prepare for the World Cup. If we do our jobs and do them well then we can win this game, this final.”

Head to head (h2h) history and results

18:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

The four most recent matches between the two sides have finished in a draw.

Portugal wins: 6

Draws: 16

Spain wins: 17

Ronaldo’s nasty injury

17:47 , Jonathan Gorrie

Chelsea set to benefit as Spain make decision on Azpilicueta

17:25 , Jonathan Gorrie

Cesar Azpilicueta has been dropped from Spain’s matchday squad for tonight’s Nations League decider with Portugal.

Luis Enrique decided to leave the Chelsea defender out of his 23-man selection after he played 87 minutes of the defeat to Switzerland last week, which knocked La Roja off top spot of Group A2.

Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal is set to take Azpilicueta’s place while Barcelona’s Eric Garcia has also been left out.

Read the full story here!

Prediction: 1-1 draw

17:20 , Jonathan Gorrie

Spain were not entirely convincing in their international matches at the end of last season and have now followed that up with a tame defeat to Switzerland. They need all three points in Portugal, so will likely have to chase the game at some point.

It’s so often incredibly tight when these countries face each other - it would be a surprise if that was not the case again this time.

Draw, 1-1.

Spain team news: Carvajal to replace Azpilicueta

17:18 , Jonathan Gorrie

Luis Enrique is expected to make changes, with Dani Carvajal likely to come in at right-back in place of Cesar Azpilicueta.

Diego Llorente, Rodri and Alvaro Morata are among those who did not feature against Switzerland and will be pushing for a start against Portugal.

Portugal team news

17:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

Joao Cancelo missed the win over Czech Republic due to suspension but is expected to come straight back into the side, even though his replacement Diogo Dalot scored twice in that match.

Cristiano Ronaldo was left covered with blood after taking a blow to the nose, though did not suffer any serious injury and played the full 90 minutes.

Where to watch Portugal vs Spain

17:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

TV channel: The game will be broadcast live on BoxNation, as part of the Premier Sports package. Coverage begins at 7:35pm BST.

LIVE stream: Those with a Premier Sports subscription can also watch the action unfold online via the Premier Player.

Live blog: You can follow all the action via Standard Sport’s live blog.

Welcome

15:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Portugal’s Nations League clash with Spain.

Kick-off inside the Estádio Municipal de Braga to decide Group A2 is at 7.45pm BST.