Women’s Euro 2025: Spain Aim for a Grand Slam

Spain vs Portugal

World champions Spain kick off their Women’s Euro 2025 campaign with a tasty clash against neighbors Portugal on Thursday and, after winning the UEFA Nations League in 2024, La Roja is now hunting a clean sweep.   

With the CONCACAF Gold Cup at the semifinal stage and the Club World Cup in full flow, there is a festival of football for fans worldwide, and the women’s game is ready to join the party. But for Spain, winning it all is their clear aim.

Portugal are a more recent arrival in the game. And in a group also having Belgium and Italy, it will be quite an achievement for Francisco Neto’s team to reach the knockouts. While the Portuguese boss has been with his side for 11 years and led them to the World Cup finals in 2023, Spain head coach Montserrat Tome is entering her first tournament, but she has only lost once in 10 games in charge.     

La Roja come into the game on the back of a 3-1 win over Japan, while Portugal drew 0-0 with Nigeria, and the Women’s Euro 2025 betting odds are backing Spain to win Group B and the whole championship. Can Portugal put a spanner in the works?

 

Talking Points

Bonmati joins the Spain squad

The big Women’s Euro 2025 news on Tuesday was the announcement that Spain’s star midfielder Aitana Bonmati has rejoined her teammates having been discharged from hospital after suffering a bout of viral meningitis. The Ballon d’Or winner for the past two years missed the friendly with Japan, and her return to the squad is a major boost for La Roja.

Whether Bonmati makes the game on Thursday remains to be seen, but she is sure to play a big part as the tournament progresses. This is a team littered with household names, including another Ballon d’Or winner, the legendary Alexia Putellas, who has scored 34 goals in 130 caps and, at 31 years of age, has plenty more to offer.

Another player to watch is Putellas’ 23-year-old Barcelona teammate Claudia Pina, who starred in a 2-1 win over England in June. The attacking midfielder has scored seven goals in 15 games for La Roja to add to her 50 goals in 117 games for Barca, and Pina will surely be one of the stars of the 2025 Euros. 

 

Portugal aiming to make history

Ranked 22^nd in the FIFA world rankings, Portugal are a full 20 places behind their opening opponents, and they come into the tournament and this group as underdogs. Escaping Group B would represent this nation’s best achievement in history.

Neto is a much-loved coach, and he leads the team into its third consecutive Euros, bringing a mix of youth and experience to Switzerland. Portugal are captained by Braga midfielder Dolores Silva, who has picked up 172 caps, only 13 fewer than record holder, the Sporting defender Ana Borges who holds 185.

23-year-old Real Sociedad midfielder Andreia Jacinto has issued a rallying call to her teammates, saying: “Everyone knows the quality of Spain, but we are in a European Championship, it’s football, anything can happen. We want to be as competitive as we can and make a good result.”

Portugal do have a chance to escape a group in which the runners-up spot is fairly open, and they showed what they can do when they drew 1-1 with England back in February, though they have since suffered a 6-0 defeat to the Lionesses.  

They can be leaky at the back, but Portugal have received a boost with the return of striker Jessica Silva, who has recovered from an eye injury, and her taste for goals will always give her team a chance.     

In the men’s game, Portugal and Spain met for the UEFA Nations League crown earlier this month, and the Selecao won on penalties. It would be a dream come true for the Portugal women to turn over La Roja, too.    

 

History

This is Spain’s fifth appearance at the Euros, but they are yet to better their semifinal effort at their first attempt back in 1997. But of course, they are currently the World and UEFA Nations League champions.   

Portugal qualified for the Women’s Euros in 2017 and 2022 and their first-ever World Cup finals in 2023.  

Spain have won all five of the previous meetings with Portugal. When they met in April this year, La Roja handed out a 7-1 thrashing. And, in terms of recent form, Spain have won five of the last six and lost one, while Portugal have won one, drawn one, and lost four.  

 

Betting Tip

Spain are the SBOTOP favourites at 1.07 to win this opener, with Portugal priced at 13.00, and the draw is at 7.24.   

Spain to win 4-0 is available at odds of 7.02. And while that may be a pessimistic thought for Portugal, which does have a goal threat, I’m pretty sure there will be goals. 

   

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