In a thrilling showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu, Lucas Paqueta’s penalty in stoppage time shattered La Roja’s dreams of victory. The 3-3 friendly clash between Brazil and Spain on Tuesday was a rollercoaster of entertainment and passion.
Within the confines of the Spanish capital, Spain’s captain Rodri showcased his prowess by converting two contentious penalties. Dani Olmo’s superb solo effort added to Spain’s lead, with a penalty from a tumble by the dynamic winger Lamine Yamal kickstarting the scoring for Manchester City in the 12th minute.
Five minutes into the second half, the young sensation Endrick leveled the score for Brazil following a mistake by Spain’s substitute Unai Simon, which allowed Rodrygo to pull one back before halftime.
Even though Rodri netted his second penalty in the dying moments following a foul on Dani Carvajal by Lucas Beraldo, it was Lucas Paqueta who ultimately sealed the deal. This thrilling encounter between two football powerhouses was not only a display of skill but also a statement against racism, prompted by the abuse targeted at Real Madrid and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior in Spain.
While Yamal delivered for Spain, his young compatriot and future teammate at Los Blancos, Endrick, continued to bask in the limelight. Vinicius led Brazil for the first time but had a quiet game. Alvaro Morata, usually the team captain, handed the armband to Rodri as a tribute to the midfielder’s late grandfather.
Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, fielded a strong squad to face the five-time World Cup champions. In Dorival Junior’s second game in charge of Selecao, La Roja put on a commendable first-half performance, stifling Brazil’s opportunities.
Despite some fortune in winning a penalty after a perceived dive following a challenge from Joao Gomes, the Barcelona winger Yamal earned it, allowing Rodri to convert and open the scoring. The 16-year-old talent, who also played a part in Olmo’s second goal, continues to rise in fame with each match.
Olmo, an attacker for RB Leipzig, displayed finesse in his finish, skillfully evading Beraldo before beating Brazil’s goalkeeper, Bento. Just before halftime, Rodrygo of Brazil capitalized on a mistake by Unai Simon, lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper’s head to give Spain the lead.
Making his debut at the future home of his club, Real Madrid, Dorival brought Endrick onto the field at halftime. Endrick, who had recently scored the winning goal against England in another friendly, wasted no time in making an impact. Positioned perfectly after a corner, the 17-year-old swiftly netted his first goal in the Spanish capital with a deflected volley. As Rodri converted his second penalty in the closing moments, Spain thought they had secured victory, spurred on by a collision between Carvajal and Beraldo. However, Brazil refused to concede defeat, showing resilience until the final whistle.
In the dying moments of stoppage time, Carvajal tripped Galeno, resulting in a penalty for the visitors. With virtually the last kick of the game, Paqueta, who had narrowly avoided a penalty earlier for an incident involving Marc Cucurella, expertly deceived Simon to equalize for Brazil.
