Spain lose for first time since winning World Cup

Published on: 02 December 2023

Spain had won eight games in a row before this defeat

Spain lost for the first time since they were crowned world champions as Italy produced a surprise win in the Women's Nations League.

Athenea del Castillo put the hosts ahead in Pontevedra before Italy scored three times in 18 second-half minutes.

Michela Cambiaghi put the visitors ahead after Valentina Giacinti's equaliser, with former Atletico Madrid defender Elena Linari adding the third.

Esther Gonzalez got Spain's second but they were unable to find an equaliser.

Despite defeat, Spain have qualified for the Nations League finals with a game to spare.

It was their first defeat since losing 4-0 to Japan at the World Cup on 31 July in Wellington, New Zealand.

They had won eight games in a row, including a 1-0 victory over England in the World Cup final, before losing to Italy.

Line-upsMatch Stats

Line-upsSpain

Formation 4-3-3

23Coll2Batlle4Paredes14Aleixandri19Carmona6Bonmatí3Abelleira10Hermoso22del Castillo7Paralluelo8Caldentey Oliver

Booked at 83mins

Booked at 85mins

Substitutes

1Rodríguez Rivero5Andrés9González11Pérez12Hernández13Salón15Navarro16Codina17García18Oroz20Benítez21Gabarro

Italy

Formation 5-4-1

1Giuliani2Bergamaschi13Di Guglielmo19Lenzini5Linari17Boattin21Cambiaghi6Giugliano18Caruso16Dragoni9Giacinti

1Giuliani2Bergamaschi13Di GuglielmoSubstituted forSalvaiat 90+1'minutes19Lenzini5Linari17Boattin21CambiaghiSubstituted forPiemonteat 90+2'minutes6GiuglianoSubstituted forGalliat 71'minutes18Caruso16DragoniSubstituted forCatenaat 55'minutes9GiacintiSubstituted forCantoreat 55'minutes

Substitutes

3Gama4Galli7Cantore8Piemonte10Catena11Bonfantini12Schroffenegger14Severini15Serturini20Greggi22Baldi23Salvai

Referee:Eleni AntoniouMatch StatsHome TeamSpainAway TeamItalyPossessionHome70%Away30%ShotsHome14Away5Shots on TargetHome6Away4CornersHome11Away4FoulsHome11Away7

Source: bbc.com