Brazil thrash Portugal 5-0 in Aveiro, sounding alarm for Women’s 2027 hopes

Portugal’s women left the Estádio Municipal de Aveiro with heavy legs and heavier thoughts. A resounding 5-0 loss to Brazil ended their calendar year and instantly validated Andreia Jacinto’s pre-match warning of a “huge challenge”. The Algarve-born midfielder, one of the few players who coped with the South American press, had predicted an evening in which spaces would be rare and decisions had to be made "one touch earlier". She was right, and the scoreboard made sure everyone realised how steep the learning curve remains nine months before World Cup 2027 qualifying begins.

Sambas Echo in Aveiro

Gabi Zanotti’s early strike forced Portugal into chase mode after only 7 minutes; by half-time Ludmila and Dudinha had doubled and trebled the lead. Each goal came from the kind of full-pitch man-marking Jacinto had described as “different from anything we face in Europe”. The visiting forward line never allowed centre-backs Diana Gomes or Carole Costa to settle, and possession turnovers cascaded into counter-attacks. When Isabela and Bia Zaneratto added two more after the break the small pocket of Brazilian supporters behind Patrícia Morais’s goal erupted into a carnival chant that drowned out the local brass band.

Portuguese Midfield Puzzle

Jacinto, still only 23 yet already in her fourth season with Real Sociedad, tried to knit triangles with Andreia Norton and Fátima Pinto but admitted afterwards that “the game was faster than our automatic habits”. Her Spanish experience helped her ride tackles, she said, but not even that background could solve the issue of mobility and contra-movements. Without injured playmaker Kika Nazareth, Portugal lacked a left-footed outlet between the lines, obliging wingers Jéssica Silva and Diana Silva to dribble inside—straight into traffic.

Tactical Lab for 2027 Ambitions

Head coach Francisco Neto chose to interpret the defeat as a live-fire exercise. “To qualify for the next World Cup we will meet teams that offer no gifts,” he told RTP. Neto stressed the need for ruthlessness, a trait Brazil showcased with 15 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses across the year under Arthur Elias. He also pointed at individual duels, explaining that the South American champions mark "as if every blade of grass belongs to them". The remark alluded to Portugal’s difficulty playing out from the back when confronted with such personalised attention.

What the Scoreline Masks

Despite the gulf, the evening supplied fragments of encouragement. Goalkeeper Inês Pereira’s fingertip denial of Zanotti at 3-0 drew an ovation, and young full-back Ana Seiça held her own against Bia Zaneratto for long stretches. There was also the strategic benefit of testing an improvised 4-2-3-1 without Nazareth. Neto believes those minutes will be useful if another fitness setback occurs in the qualifying window.

Looking Ahead to the Spring Qualifiers

The Seleção now break until March, when friendlies against Canada and the Republic of Ireland precede a crucial visit to Reykjavík for the first competitive fixture of 2026. Jacinto hopes the sting of Aveiro will sharpen focus during winter camps in Cidade do Futebol. “Brazil showed us how high the bar really is,” she said. “If we want to see our flag in Australia in 2027, nights like this cannot be wasted.” The next few months will reveal whether the lesson has been learned—or merely experienced.