Brazil and Spain will clash in an international friendly on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid. This will be the 10th meeting between these nations, with the five-time world champions dominating their all-time record with five wins, two draws, and two losses.
While their under-23 teams clashed in the gold-medal match of the 2021 Olympics (2-1 victory for the Seleção), their most recent match at the senior level came in 2013 in another tournament decider. That year, they faced each other in the Confederations Cup final, held in Brazilian soil ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
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The expectations for that match played on June 30th at the Maracanã were huge. Brazil, then coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari, arrived in the final undefeated, having defeated Italy, Mexico, and Japan in the group stage before eliminating Uruguay in the semifinals.
The Spanish team, meanwhile, came from winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In the group stage, they defeated Nigeria, Uruguay, and claimed a commanding 10-0 victory against Tahiti.
Both countries had star-studded squads. Brazil counted on Neymar – later named the tournament’s best player, Thiago Silva, Júlio César, and Paulinho, among others. Spain had Fernando Torres – the tournament’s top scorer, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, and Iker Casillas.
Chronicle of the Brazilian party against Spain
Within a minute of play, Brazil took the lead to send the Maracanã painted in green and yellow into a frenzy. A mistake between Arbeloa and Piqué in failing to clear a cross let Fred, from the ground, anticipate Casillas to find the net.
#Maraca65anos CAMPEÃO da Copa das Confederações: BRASIL 3 x 0 ESPANHA – 30 de junho de 2013 #futebol #CBF #BRA pic.twitter.com/5w6Sw6On7X
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) June 16, 2015
Shortly before the end of the first half, the hosts extended their lead. Neymar received a pass from Oscar, and with his left foot, he placed the ball high into the top corner of the Spanish goalkeeper’s near post, who couldn’t even touch the ball.
At the beginning of the second half, the Brazilian party continued. Fred received the ball at the edge of the area, after Neymar cleverly let the ball run, and showed why he had earned the number 9 shirt for that team.
