World champions and pre-tournament favourites Spain will be expecting to beat Switzerland when they come up against the hosts in the UEFA Women's Nations League on Friday night.
After a perfect group stage which saw them win all three games, the Spaniards are now in the middle of an impressive eight-match winning streak in all competitions. They have also won the previous four meetings between the two teams, scoring a whopping 19 goals in total.
Switzerland have plenty to fear, but as hosts, the crowd will be very much on their side as they try to pull off what would be a famous victory. The Swiss did well to qualify from a group that also included Iceland, who are higher ranked than them in the official FIFA Women's Rankings, the more fancied Norway, who topped the group, and Finland, who were only a few minutes away from knocking them out before Switzerland found a late equaliser in their final group match.
Nonetheless, while Spain will be huge favourites to progress, this is still a highly-anticipated clash between the tournament favourites and the hosts. Can Switzerland spring a huge upset?
How the bookies view it: Spain overwhelming favourites
Spain have been priced as big as 1/12 odds-on favourites with BoyleSports to win the game in normal time and progress into the semi-finals. A draw after 90 minutes has been priced at 10/1 odds with the same bookmaker, while a Switzerland victory is a huge outsider at 18/1 odds.
Recent head-to-head: Seven heaven for Spain
These two teams last met in October 2023, where Spain romped to an emphatic 7-1 victory. Alexia Putellas was among the star performers with two goals and one assist, while Athenea del Castillo also managed to grab herself a brace.
Players to watch: Punt on Putellas
Putellas has enjoyed an outstanding tournament so far, recording no fewer than three goals and four assists across Spain's three wins in the group stage. The former Ballon d'Or winner can be backed at 6/5 odds with BoyleSports to score anytime here.
Riola Xhemaili was the hero for Switzerland as her late goal against Finland last time out ensured that the hosts qualified for the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time in their history.
Predicted lineups
Both teams have no fresh injury concerns or suspensions to worry about heading into this clash, so could be tempted to stick with unchanged XIs.
Spain Women: Nanclares; Fernandez, Paredes, Mendez, Ouahabi; Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas; Castillo, Paralluelo, Caldentey.
Switzerland Women: Peng; Beney, Calligaris, Stierli, Maritz, Riesen; Reuteler, Folmli, Walti, Vallotto, Schertenleib.
Anything else catch the eye?
The fact that Spain have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 games in all competitions makes the Both Teams To Score (BTTS) market an intriguing one. BoyleSports are offering enhanced odds of 6/4 for the Spain to win and BTTS combo, which we feel is worth exploring.
The fact that the Spaniards have been so free-scoring of late with 14 in total in the tournament so far, averaging nearly five per game, means that the Team Goals market is also intriguing for them. Over 4.5 Spain goals can be backed at 21/10 odds with BoyleSports.
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