Preview: Spain Women vs Switzerland Women - prediction, team news, lineups

On Friday, Spain Women will meet Switzerland Women in a Women’s European Championship quarter-final clash in Bern.

The 2023 World Cup winners finished in top spot in Group B, while the tournament hosts sealed a last-eight berth with a second-placed finish in Group A.

Match preview

After winning the World Cup and the Nations League in the past two years, Spain are hoping to clinch silverware for the third consecutive year in a row as they look to become the sixth different team to win the Women's European Championship.

Spain cruised through the group stages of the current tournament, collecting maximum points from their three games to finish above Italy, Belgium and Portugal.

They cruised to a 5-0 victory over Portugal in their opening game, before they sealed their place in the quarter-finals with a 6-2 victory over Belgium on matchday two.

Montse Tome's side then clinched top spot in Group B with a 3-1 victory against Italy, coming from a goal down to collect all three points thanks to goals from Athenea del Castillo, Patri Guijarro and Esther Gonzalez.

Spain are now bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1997 after falling at the quarter-final stage in each of the previous three Women's Euros.

La Roja will take immense confidence from the fact that they have won their last four games against Switzerland by a combined 19-2 scoreline, including a dominant 5-1 victory in the last 16 of the 2023 World Cup.

Switzerland are set to make their first appearance in the Women's Championship knockout rounds after making full use of home advantage to finish in second spot in Group A.

La Nati began their home tournament with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Norway, before they bounced back with a crucial 2-0 victory over Iceland, courtesy of goals from Geraldine Reuteler and Alayah Pilgrim.

Switzerland knew that they needed just a point from their final group game to advance to the quarter-finals, but those hopes were left hanging by a thread when Finland's Natalia Kuikka netted a 79th-minute penalty in last Thursday's contest.

As a result, Pia Sundhage's side were heading out of the tournament until Riola Xhemaili scored a 92nd-minute winner to spark scenes of jubilation in Geneva, ensuring that Switzerland made it through with Group A winners Norway. 

The tournament hosts will have to pull off an almighty upset if they are to continue their journey at the Women's Euros, especially as they have won just two of their previous 12 matches (D3, L7). 

Switzerland are searching for their first victory over Spain since recording a 4-3 win in European Championship qualifying in June 2012, with La Nati dreaming of setting up a semi-final tie against either France or Germany. 

Spain Women Women's European Championship form:

Spain Women form (all competitions):

Switzerland Women Women's European Championship form:

Switzerland Women form (all competitions):

Team News

After dropping down to the bench on Friday, Ona Batlle, Laia Aleixandri and Olga Carmona are likely to return to the backline for the quarter-final clash.

Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati will retain her place in midfield after making her first start since recovering from viral meningitis. 

Claudia Pina and Esther Gonzalez are set to return to the front three, with the latter looking to add to the four goals that she has scored at the 2025 Women’s Euros.

As for Switzerland, Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic and Leila Wandeler are pushing for starting spots after featuring as half-time substitutes against Finland.

Xhemaili may have to settle for a place among the substitutes despite coming off the bench to score a late equaliser in the final group game.

Geraldine Reuteler will offer a key attacking threat from midfield, having registered four goal contributions in her last four international appearances. 

Spain Women possible starting lineup:

Nanclares; Battle, Paredes, Aleixandri, Carmona; Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas; Caldentey, Pina, Gonzalez

Switzerland Women possible starting lineup:

Peng; Beney, Calligaris, Stierli, Maritz, Crnogorcevic; Reuteler, Walti, Vallotto; Wandeler, Schertenleib

We say: Spain Women 3-1 Switzerland Women

Spain have shown signs of being vulnerable in defence, but while we think that Switzerland may give their fans a goal to celebrate, we believe the world champions will lean on their extra quality and firepower to claim a relatively comfortable victory over the tournament hosts.

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