MATCH REPORT | Hard-fought win sees Spain through to the quarter-finals (6-2)

Rain and a marked drop in temperature welcomed the national team back to the charming Thun Arena, sitting at the foot of the Swiss Alps. An ideal setting to seal a place in the quarter-finals.

Barely two minutes had passed when Vicky López tried her luck against the 'Red Flames' goalkeeper. Spain were looking for their rhythm, their essence, and aimed to control the ball from the start in a light rain that made for a very quick pitch. It took a few minutes for the game to settle into its rhythm, enough time for Vicky to deliver a ball that Pina was just short of slotting into the back of the net.

Olga Carmona threatened again for Spain, this time from outside the box, but her shot went wide of the Belgian goal. Bit by bit, Montse Tomé’s side began to pin Belgium back, taking the initiative and looking dangerous from different areas of the pitch, with Olga looking lively and drilling another strike close to the target, again from distance. As ever though, it had to be Alexia who opened the scoring. Patri linked up with Vicky, who laid it off for Alexia, and she made no mistake with her finish.

The Spanish joy did not last long. Just a minute later, Vanhaevermaet headed in from a corner. With her height, 1.85m, she rose above everyone and levelled the scores.

Spain stuck to their attacking plans, not losing faith. Esther González tried a header, but luck was not on her side this time. After the half-hour mark, the rain intensified over Thun. And with it, so did the national team’s pressure, forcing several corners. It was from one of these, in the 39th minute, that the second goal came courtesy of the captain, Irene Paredes, who towered above everyone and scored on her Euro 2025 debut. On the brink of half-time, the Belgian defence cleared off the line what could have been the third following a lightning-fast incisive passing move between Vicky and Alexia.

At the restart, Vicky López made way for Aitana Bonmatí. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner needed less than three minutes to control a loose ball, cut inside and shoot, although her effort went wide. While Aitana’s near miss was still being wrongly celebrated by some in the crowd, Belgium hit on the counter, Eurlings scored their second, and the Hungarian referee, Kulcsár, having initially called for offside, saw her decision overturned by VAR and awarded the equaliser.

A minute later, Esther González put Spain back in front by finishing off a magnificent pass from Alexia, who had combined with Aitana in the build-up. Spain’s forward scored her third goal of this Euros, and the national team regained the lead, trying to bring some calm after a chaotic start to the second half.

Set-pieces again played a key role in chance creation, with Lichtfus making a crucial save round the post. And from the resulting corner came Spain’s fourth. This time it was Mariona Caldentey. The ball fell kindly to her after a goalmouth scramble in the six-yard box, and she made no mistake in smashing it home. From that point, Spain enjoyed their best minutes of the match, playing with pace, depth, and creating a flurry of chances, forcing Belgium to completely lose their shape. Mariona’s chip was flicked on by Alexia, brushing the outside of the post. Alexia then played a one-touch pass to Olga, who squared it to Esther, only for her shot to be stopped by Lichtfus on the goal line.

Spain were enjoying themselves at this point, and Montse took the opportunity to make a double substitution in the 73rd minute, bringing on Cristina Martín-Prieto for Esther González and Athenea del Castillo for Mariona Caldentey. Two minutes later, Patri Guijarro nearly added a fifth with a powerful shot. Then, Claudia Pina did score, nearly blasting a hole in the net in the process. Right after celebrating with Cata, she was replaced by Salma Paralluelo. Leila Ouhabai had just come on for Olga Carmona as Spain scored their sixth of the evening in the 86th minute. Alexia Putellas found the ball in the six-yard box and, with a textbook finish, scored the final goal for the reigning World Cup and Nations League winners.

A minute later, Belgium responded in what turned into a chaotic few moments, hitting the crossbar and scoring a goal that was later disallowed for offside. Time ran out for Belgium, and Spain secured another great win that saw them reach the quarter-finals. The national side have now scored 11 goals in two matches.