Italy suffered a painless defeat: they lost 3-1 to Spain but advanced to the quarterfinals. They will face Norway.

Objective achieved. In Bern, Italy bowed with honors (3-1) to world champion Spain but still flew into the quarterfinals of the Women's European Championship thanks to already-eliminated Belgium, who shocked Portugal (2-1) in Sion. The Azzurre put in a courageous performance, but it wasn't enough to avoid defeat. It doesn't matter: on Wednesday the 16th in Geneva (9 p.m.) they will try to surprise Norway, who finished Group A with a perfect record thanks to victories over Switzerland (2-1), Finland (2-1), and Iceland (4-3).

«The race report»

Linari's crossbar, Athenea responds to Oliviero

Italy started with aplomb: Linari hit the crossbar (9') from a Giugliano corner and then took the lead (10'). Mariona was caught by a shot that Piemonte swerved and inadvertently fed the ball to Oliviero, who scored with a left-footed shot from close range. The Azzurri's joy lasted just four minutes: Athenea, with a splendid run, broke free on the edge of the box, asked for and received a back-heeled triangle from Alexia, and then beat Giuliani with a powerful right-footed shot.

Italy dangerous on the counterattack

Spain persisted, but Italy once again threatened on the counterattack with Piemonte, caught in a dubious offside position, squandering a chance (29') with a shot that went wide of the post after Nanclares had come out. The Iberian side struggled on the counterattacks, and in the 42nd minute, VAR denied Italy a likely penalty after Paredes' arm wasted due to Cantore's near-offside position. The former Juventus striker, recently signed from Washington, was inspired, but her cross was wasted by Bonansea, who headed over from a favorable position.

Patri overturns the result

Spain decided to change pace in the second half and overturned the score in the 49th minute: after another fine individual move on the edge of the box by Athenea, Lenzini misplaced the ball and played it to Patri, who beat Giuliani with a powerful right-footed shot from outside the box. The Iberian team continued their attack but narrowly missed the chance to make it three with a header from Paredes. The Azzurre continued to rely on Cantore's pace to create danger on the counterattack, but the winger's curling right-footed shot, launched by substitute Girelli, was saved by a clever dive by Nanclares.

Giuliani denies Bonmatí a trio

As the minutes ticked by, Italy became more cautious, given the good news from Sion. Spain attempted to add to their lead, but Giuliani was prodigious in the 75th minute, clearing Bonmatí's curling left-footed shot from the top corner. The Italian goalkeeper wasn't entirely blameless, however, in the 91st minute, when he diverted a flying tackle from substitute Esther Gonzalez after Alexia's cross into the net. Fortunately, it was a painless goal. Italy's European Championship campaign continues.