Portugal 1-0 Wales: Joao Felix goal enough to give Jesus winning start

Jorge Jesus got his Portugal tenure up and running with a win as the defending Nations League champions began their 2026-27 campaign with a 1-0 victory against Wales. 

Joao Felix struck the decisive blow in the first half at Estadio Jose Alvalade, though Wales had more than enough chances to at least claim a point away from home.

Portugal started brightly as Cristiano Ronaldo's first sight of goal saw him drag a shot wide, before Vitinha and Joao Felix had their efforts blocked by Wales' retreating defence. 

The hosts had to wait until the 22nd minute for their first shot on target, and it resulted in a goal. Nuno Mendes skipped beyond Ethan Ampadu before laying the ball off to Joao Felix, who took a touch before seeing his attempt nestle into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the penalty area. 

Ronaldo, in his quest to reach 1,000 career goals, then volleyed just wide before his tame effort after being found by Joao Felix was comfortably held by Danny Ward. 

Portugal should have doubled their lead four minutes into the second half, but Ronaldo somehow turned Ruben Neves' cross over the bar, and he thought he had got his goal when he raced onto Bruno Fernandes' defence-splitting pass, only for it to be ruled out following a VAR check for offside. 

But Wales spurned a glorious chance to draw level when Brennan Johnson ghosted in behind the Portugal backline and lofted an effort onto the crossbar, with Lewis Koumas' attempt on the rebound blocked off the line by Ruben Dias. 

Daniel James and Mendes then fired wide at either end before substitute Goncalo Ramos stung the palms of Ward, with Portugal able to weather the Wales storm in the minutes that remained, getting themselves up and running in the Nations League.

Portugal fail to build on Joao Felix strike 

With Wales missing several key players including Harry Wilson and Joe Rodon, many expected a comfortable outing for Portugal, and it looked as though it would be following Joao Felix's goal, which was his fifth in his last 10 starts for the Selecao. 

He was teed up by the marauding Mendes, who registered his seventh assist for Portugal since the start of 2024. Overall, he's third for goal involvements in that time for his nation, behind Ronaldo (20) and Fernandes (17). 

Portugal's 13 shots in the first half were also their most in the opening 45 minutes of a game since November 2025 against Armenia (17), but after the break, Wales looked the more likely to alter the scoreline. 

Wales do, however, remain winless in their last five matches (D3 L2), their worst run under manager Craig Bellamy, but there will plenty of positives he can take from their performance ahead of facing Denmark in three days' time. 

Jesus' side finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.36 from their 23 shots, only five of which were on target, compared to Wales' tally of 0.84 from their five attempts, with Portugal's next test seeing them take on Erling Haaland and Norway.