Italy-Spain, much more than just a friendly match

The first and last time Italy and Spain met, the result was the same, a 2-3 win for the ‘Azzurri’. 

Between the 2-3 defeat in the first meeting on 3 November 1985 at the Luis Sitjar stadium in Palma de Mallorca and the last meeting at the Pasarón stadium in Pontevedra, Italy and Spain have met a total of 13 times, 12 of them in official matches (qualifiers, finals, Cups) and only once before in a friendly. That friendly ended in a 1-1 draw and the goal was scored by Alexia Putellas, who equalised after Valentina Bergamaschi's opening goal for Italy. 

Looking at the most recent history between the two sides, the two sides met twice in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League 2024. Interestingly, Spain struck first in Italy, winning away on matchday three of Group D, almost exactly a year ago on 27 October 2023.  Jenni Hermoso's goal did not come until the 89th minute and the victory, hard-fought until the final whistle, left a great taste in the mouth. 

Almost two months later, on 1 December 2023, on matchday 5 of the group stage, they met again and this time, the Italians hit back with a 3-2 win in Pontevedra. Goals from Athenea and Esther González were not enough to avoid defeat, but in the end, the national team ended up lifting the UEFA Nations League Champions trophy in February of the following year.

Undoubtedly, the most painful defeat suffered against the Italians was the 1-2 semi-final loss at Euro 1997 in Norway and Sweden. The Spaniards fell just short of reaching the final after losing at the Åråsen Stadion in Lillestrøm. Spain's goal was scored by Angeles Parejo in the 89th minute and there was no time to force an equaliser and extra time. Spain were out of the European Championships. 

They had to wait until 31 October 2013. That day changed the course of history in the clashes between Spain and Italy. On that day, the national team broke the curse and started a new cycle of success by winning 2-0 in the second of the group stage on their way to the World Cup in Canada 2015. Sonia Bermúdez (current U-23 coach) and Natalia Pablos were the scorers of two goals that would go down in history as the first time Spain had beaten Italy. They had met seven times before and had never managed to do so. 

Subsequently, and by the same score, 2-0, Spain won the Cyprus Cup Final against the Italians with goals from Amanda first and Patri Guijarro later. 

Tomorrow will be the second time that the Romeo Menti in Vicenza has hosted a duel between the two teams. In April 2014 the match ended goalless. Italy come into this latest clash fourteenth in the FIFA rankings, showing signs of developing as a team and the good work being done by the team coached by Andrea Soncin. Spain, who have already qualified for Euro 2025 in Switzerland, are looking to continue gaining valuable experience and confidence with these friendlies, and to find a good feeling by taking on top level opponents who promise to make things difficult for them. The Italians are sure to be a team that will put Montse Tomé's team through their paces. Spain come into the match following a draw against Canada at the Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo and a dream goalscoring debut for Cristina Martín-Prieto.