World champions Spain showcased their prowess as they cruised to a resounding 5-0 victory against Switzerland in a Nations League group game on Tuesday. Aitana Bonmati played a starring role, netting two goals to bolster Spain’s dominant performance.
Spain, playing their first home game since clinching the World Cup title in Australia last month, took to the field amidst the lingering excitement surrounding former Spanish Federation (RFEF) boss Luis Rubiales’s memorable kiss on player Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony.
The passionate fans turned out in full force to support the world champions, and captains Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes proudly displayed the World Cup trophy to a record-breaking crowd of 14,194 at the Nuevo Arcangel stadium in Cordoba, setting a new Spanish attendance record for the women’s national team.
A delighted Aitana Bonmati reflected on the memorable night, saying, “We were looking forward to celebrating with the fans. I’m happy with the game, with how we won and with the attendance record. It’s a night we will never forget.”
Early in the match, Lucia Garcia and Alexia Putellas had promising opportunities to open the scoring, but Swiss goalkeeper Elvira Herzog thwarted their close-range attempts.
However, Herzog’s unfortunate blunder a few minutes later changed the course of the game. Losing possession inside the box, she gifted the ball to Mariona Caldentey, who set up Garcia for a straightforward tap-in, granting the hosts a 14th-minute lead.
Spain continued to apply pressure, and their persistence paid off just before halftime. Alexia Putellas delivered a superb pass to Olga Carmona on the left wing, allowing Bonmati to unleash a remarkable right-footed volley, extending Spain’s lead.
In the 49th minute, Aitana Bonmati notched her second goal and Spain’s third with a composed finish, courtesy of an outstanding solo effort by Alexia Putellas. Substitutes Inma Gabarro and Maite Oroz further widened the gap with two additional strikes.
In the context of the Nations League, which also serves as a qualifying tournament for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, Spain currently tops the League A Group 4 standings with six points. They maintain a three-point lead over Sweden and Italy, while Switzerland finds themselves at the bottom of the group with two losses in as many games.
