World champions Spain ended the spirited run of host nation Switzerland at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, securing a hard-fought 2-0 victory in their quarter-final clash in Bern on Friday.
Despite missing two penalties, second-half goals from substitute Athenea del Castillo and midfielder Claudia Pina were enough to break down a resilient Swiss defence and send Spain to their first European Championship semi-final since 1997.
In front of a passionate, sold-out crowd at Wankdorf Stadium, Spain were frustrated for large parts of the match. They were awarded a penalty in the ninth minute, but Mariona Caldentey dragged her spot-kick wide. The Spanish side continued to dominate but were met by a stubborn Swiss backline and a series of smart saves from goalkeeper Livia Peng.
The breakthrough finally came in the 66th minute. A moment of magic from Aitana Bonmatí, the player of the match, saw her produce a clever back-heel pass to release Athenea del Castillo, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes, and the winger calmly slotted the ball home. Five minutes later, Claudia Pina sealed the victory with a sublime curling strike from the edge of the penalty area.
Spain’s profligacy from the spot continued late in the game when Alexia Putellas had her penalty saved by the impressive Peng. The hosts finished the match with ten players after defender Noelle Maritz was shown a red card in stoppage time for a last-ditch challenge.
“We were calm, we were confident. I knew we had to fight and must be patient,” Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí said afterwards. “We are used to winning from the beginning. But real football is not like that, you have to compete for 90 minutes, especially at this level.”
While their tournament is over, the Swiss team can hold their heads high. They reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history and captured the imagination of the nation, with thousands of fans participating in pre-match fan walks and creating a vibrant atmosphere at every game. The Swiss players received a lengthy standing ovation from the home supporters and a guard of honour from their Spanish opponents after the final whistle.
Spain will now face the winner of Saturday’s quarter-final between France and Germany in Zurich on Wednesday, July 23, as they continue their quest for a first-ever Women’s European Championship crown.
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