Spain Women go try seal top spot for Group A when dem face Italy Women for Friday Women’s European Championship game for Bern. La Roja dey top the table with two points clear ahead of Italy, wey still dey chase knockout qualification.
Match Preview
Italy wan enter knockout stage for the first time since 2013, as dem don crash out for group stage for the last two editions of the Euros. Dem get better chance to qualify this time, but dem miss the opportunity to confirm am for Monday match against Portugal.
After dem beat Belgium 1-0, Italy bin dey control things again when Cristiana Girelli score one sweet goal for 70th minute against Portugal. Dem even think say the win dey sure when Diana Silva goal get cancel for offside. But las las, dem concede for 89th minute and the match end 1-1, wey still keep dem three points ahead of Portugal.
Important be say Italy get better goal difference pass Portugal. So even if Italy lose and Portugal win, e go need serious goal difference swing before Portugal fit overtake dem.
Even though Spain don win dem first two matches with big scorelines, Italy go still get hope because dem no lose for three of dem last four head-to-head meetings, including that 3-2 win for Nations League for December 2023.
Spain on their side don start the tournament hot. Dem don qualify for quarter-finals even before this match. Dem beat Portugal 5-0 and beat Belgium 6-2 for the second game. Na correct performance dem dey drop.
Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes score before Belgium equalize am two times, but later Esther Gonzalez, Mariona Caldentey, and Claudia Pina scatter the match. Putellas even complete her brace, and na the first player to score two goals and give two assists for one Women Euro match.
Spain just need draw to finish first for the group. But dem go still push for win, especially as dem don win dem last seven matches and score at least three goals for six of dem.
Italy Women Women’s European Championship Form:
D W
Italy Women Form (All Competitions):
L W D W W D
Spain Women Women’s European Championship Form:
W W
Spain Women Form (All Competitions):
W W W W W W
Team News
Italy head coach Andrea Soncin fit continue with the same players wey start the first two group matches. That one go mean say Elena Linari from Roma go pair with Juventus defenders Cecilia Salvai and Martina Lenzini for back.
For front, Cristiana Girelli go still lead the line as main goal threat. She don score four goals for her last five games for Italy.
Meanwhile, Spain coach Montse Tome fit rest Ona Batlle and Laia Aleixandri as both players don dey one yellow card away from suspension. Jana Fernandez and Maria Mendez fit enter starting XI if dem rest those two.
Aitana Bonmati fit finally start after only coming in from bench for the first two games. She bin sick before the tournament start.
Italy Women Possible Starting XI:
Giuliani; Lenzini, Salvai, Linari; Di Guglielmo, Giugliano, Severini, Boattin; Caruso, Cantore, Girelli
Spain Women Possible Starting XI:
Nanclares; Fernandez, Paredes, Mendez, Carmona; Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas; Caldentey, Pina, Gonzalez
Our Prediction:
Italy Women 1-3 Spain Women
Spain dey enter this game with full confidence. Even though Italy go try make am hard for dem, La Roja get enough quality to collect the three points sharp-sharp. Dem just dey too sharp right now.