Alexia Putellas’ brace fired Spain into UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 Quarter-Finals with a 6-2 victory over Belgium.
Second-half goals from Esther Gonzalez, Mariona Caldentey, Claudia Pina and Putellas saw Spain move onto the cusp of securing their expected Quarter-Final spot.
Putellas and Irene Paredes had fired Spain in front twice either side of Justine Vanhaevermaet’s equalising header before half-time, before Hannah Eurlings got the Belgian Red Flames’ second equaliser from a 50th-minute counter-attack.
Spain remain top of Group B on six points and qualified for the Quarter-Finals after Italy were held to a 1-1 draw by ten-women Portugal, having led through Cristiana Girelli’s stunning strike before Diana Gomes equalised for the Portuguese who finished a player down after Ana Borges’ red card in injury-time.
Widely expected to secure a Quarter-Final spot with a game to spare after their ruthless demolition of Portugal, Spain this time were frustrated in the opening minutes as Vicky Lopez fired wide just 65 seconds in, before Olga Carmona put two shots wide in a dominant first 20 minutes.
Belgium’s defensive press however was undone from a clever piece of passing play fed by Patricia Guijaro – via Mariona Caldentey’s initial pass – into the box in the 22nd minute, which found Lopez to tee up Putellas to turn the ball into the left corner to put the world champions in front.
Belgium however charged forward on the restart and forced a corner from which Tessa Wullaert whipped into the box, with Vanhaevermaet unmarked to thump the delivery in past Adriana Nanclares to restore parity just two minutes later.
Spain however continued to dominate possession and forced a 39th-minute corner via a deflection, which saw them retake the lead through a thumping header from Paredes as she met Pina’s in-swinging delivery to put them in control at half time.
Lopez however was substituted by Montse Tome at half-time for Bonmati who almost extended Spain’s lead but dragged her 49th-minute shot wide, having chopped from her right to left foot initially to create the chance.
Belgium punished that opportunity a minute later with a quick counter-attack which saw Wullaert play Eurlings forward to rifle in past Nanclares, only for the fourth official to rule the goal offside but Video-Assistant Referee overturned the offside to restore parity.
Spain however immediately used that frustration to burst up the other end barely two minutes later as Putellas teed up Gonzalez to smash the world champions back in front.
Despite Belgium’s attempts to try and force a third equaliser, Spain continued to build up their pressure which told from a 61st-minute corner, which fell for Paredes to nod down at the left post but Bonmati scruffed her shot and Caldentey tucked the ball in from close range.
Caldentey missed two further chances to extend Spain’s lead either side of a 70th-minute cross which Putellas mistimed her run to miss an easy chance to head in their fifth goal.
Spain eventually weren’t denied as Pina used her final touch in the 81st minute to curl into the far-right top corner from Putellas’ pass on the edge of the box, before she was substituted for Salma Paralluelo moments later.
Tome’s La Roja refused to relent and added a further sixth goal from a scruffy 86th-minute corner which fell for Putellas to bundle in her second goal of the game.
Spain now need Italy to beat Portugal to secure a Quarter-Final spot with a game to spare.
What’s Next?
Spain face Italy in their final Group B match on Friday 12 July at 9pm CEST in Bern, Switzerland, whilst Belgium will take on Portugal in a simultaneous kick-off across in Sion that same evening.
Teams
Spain: Adriana Nanclares, Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Laia Aleixandri, Olga Carmona (Ouahabi 86′), Vicky Lopez, Patricia Guijarro, Alexia Putellas, Mariona Caldentey (Del Castillo 74′), Esther Gonzalez (Martin-Prieto 74′), Claudia Pina (Paralluelo 82′)
Substitutions: Aitana Bonmati, Cata Coll, Jana Fernandez, Lucia Garcia, Cristiana Martin-Prieto, Maria Mendez, Leila Ouahabi, Salma Paralluelo, Alba Redondo, Esther Sullastres, Maite Zubieta, Athenea del Castillo
Belgium: Lisa Lichtfus, Jill Janssens, Amber Tysiak, Sari Kees, Janice Cayman, Laura Deloose, Mariam Toloba (Missipo 80′), Justine Vanhaevermaet, Jarne Teulings (Blom 79′), Tessa Wullaert, Hannah Eurlings (Dhont 64′)
Substitutes: Femke Bastien, Jassina Blom, Tine De Caigny, Marie Detruyer, Elena Dhont, Nicky Evrard, Isabelle Iliano, Zenia Mertens, Kassandra Missipo, Davina Philtjens, Ella Van Kerkhoven, Sarah Wijnants
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