Italy Women will take on Spain Women in the Women's Euros on Friday, 11 July in a match of significance for both nations.
Although Spain have already qualified for the quarter-finals after winning both of their opening matches, they need a further point here to qualify as group winners.
Italy, meanwhile, need a point to guarantee their place in the knockout stages, although a narrow defeat would also more than likely be enough.
How the bookies view it: Spain are huge favourites
Spain Women have been priced as the overwhelming favourites to win the match on Friday night, which is a little surprising given that they could rest players with qualification secured. BoyleSports have priced a Spain win as short as 2/9, while a victory for Italy Women has been priced at 9/1. The draw, which would suit both teams, has been priced at 9/2
Head to head: Honours even
Italy Women will feel that the odds for this match are a little off, considering they have done pretty well in matches against this Spanish side. In four matches since 2022, Italy have only lost once, which could suggest they are a bogey team for Spain. The most recent clash, in October 2024, finished 1-1.
Players to watch: Putellas is playing on another level
There was plenty of pressure of Alexia Putellas coming into this tournament for a couple of reasons. Firstly, she had been waiting for this moment for three years after missing the last Euros with an injury and secondly, she had performed at an incredibly high level for Barcelona during the 2024/25 season.
The suggestion was that if he could bring her club form into the tournament, then a third Ballon d'Or could be on the way at the end of the year. So far, she has certainly done that, scoring three goals and providing two assists across Spain's first two matches.
The 31-year-old has perhaps benefited from the absence of Aitana Bonmati, who is recovering from a serious illness. Bonmati is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, but Putellas' performances at the Euros have been beyond what she is capable of.
The pair could line up together from the start for the first time this summer, which is a scary prospect for everyone in blue.
Predicted line-ups
Italy have only conceded one goal at the tournament so far, and considering they need to avoid a heavy defeat here, they are unlikely to change anything. Spain could bring the aforementioned Bonmati into the starting XI for the first time this tournament, in what could turn out to be ideal preparation for the knockout stages.
Italy Women: Giuliani – Linari, Salvai, Lenzini – Boattin, Giugliano, Severini, Di Guglielmo – Cantore, Girelli, Caruso
Spain Women: Nanclares – Batlle, Lopez, Paredes, Carmona – Guijarro, Putellas, Bonmati – Caldentey, Rodriguez, Pina
Anything else catch the eye?
Spain have been breathtaking from an attacking point of view so far at the Euros, scoring 11 goals across their first two matches. While they are unlikely to play to that average against a strong Italian defence, they should still get at least a couple. Spain to score over 2.5 goals has been priced at 10/11 by BoyleSports.
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