Aitana Bonmatí opened her account at Euro 2025 with an extra time winner as Spain booked their spot in the Euro 2025 final at the expense of eight time winners Germany.
For much of the match, it was a battle of the goalkeepers, with both Ann-Katrin Berger and Cata Coll pulling off a string of impressive saves to keep the match goalless. But with just six minutes of extra time left to play, a piece of Bonmati brilliance proved to be the difference as Spain set up a rematch with England on Sunday in Basel
The Lineups
GER: Berger, Kett, Knaak, Minge, Kleinherne, Wamser, Bühl, Däbritz, Senß, Brand, Hoffmann
ESP: Coll, Carmona, Méndez, Paredes, Batlle, Putellas, Guijarro, Bonmatí, Pina, González, Caldentey
The Action
All signposts pointed to Spain tearing apart a depleted Germany side, robbed of Sjoeke Nusken and Kathrin Hendrich through suspension and captain Giulia Gwinn through injury. And yet, the spirit and resolve that had served Germany so well when they held on for penalties against France was on display once again.
It was Germany who had the first big chance, a long clearance from Berger was missed by the entire Spanish defence, allowing Klara Bühl to race through to meet it. Her shot went past Coll but also rolled past the far post.
Spain’s usually attacking vibrancy appeared lost, as they struggled to pick apart the resolute Germany defence. Their best chance came from an error at the back, Franziska Kett miscued clearance fell perfectly at the feet of Esther González. But Kett’s blushes were spared as Berger reacted brilliantly to tip the first time effort over the bar.
Berger was in fine form, denying Gonzalez and Clàudia Pina at the end of the half. And when it wasn’t Berger, Germany were being rescued by the woodwork, as Parades header at a corner bounced off the upright and away to safety.
Germany’s best threat was in transition, but Giovanna Hoffmann struggled to take advantage when the opportunity presented itself, a wild air kick at Jule Brand’s dangerous cutback a standout moment.
Those hoping for a livelier second half were left disappointed. The poverty of clear-cut chances only deteriorated further. Bonmati had an effort deflected over by Sophia Kleinherne, whilst Klara Bühl’s raid into the Spain penalty area ended with Coll saving her effort with her legs. With five minutes remaining, Germany went close when Bühl’s whipped free kick missed the far post by inches with Coll scrambling. And then, with the whistle in the referee’s lips, they almost snatched the win.
Berger’s miraculous save against France became the viral moment of the quarter finals, but Coll was able to pull off a moment of heroism to rival it. Just as the final minute of added time expired, Bühl’s strike from outside the penalty area took a wicked deflection, and threatened to loop over Coll’s head. Desperately backpedaling, the Barcelona keeper, was able to pluck the ball out from under her own crossbar. Not content with that, she was able to disentangle herself from the netting to block the follow up from Carlotta Wamser, back in the side following her red card against Sweden.
And so just like in Geneva, the game would be decided in Extra Time. Germany’s set piece deliveries were going straight out on the full, whilst Athenea del Castillo’s low crosses appeared determine to evade Salma Paralluelo at every opportunity. All signposts appeared to pointing to yet another penalty shootout, until Bonmati’s late intervention.
With time running out, her spin to latch onto Del Castillo’s pass into the box left Rebecca Knaak floundering. Unfortunately, the pass had taken her to the byline where there appeared no angle for her to play with. But Bonmati had the vision no else had, spotting Berger had drifted an inch from her near post, and unleashing a fierce drive past her near post that gave the Gotham keeper no time to rectify her error. It was a goal that secured Spain’s first ever win over Germany, and a place in the Euro 2025 Final.
Toothless Germany miss their mark
Throughout the tournament, the deck has become progressively stacked more and more against Germany, with injuries and suspensions robbing them of players and diminishing their squad options. This did not impact them however, they used their adversity to inspire them further. Despite being ruled out of the tournament through injury, captain Gwinn remained on the subs bench, leading the team discussions from the off the pitch In the fires of their backs to the wall win over France, a solidity was forged that was absent in their 4-1 loss to Sweden.
Against Spain, their defensive resilience was able to nullify the potent strike force of Caldentey, Pina and González, something which had seemed impossible until now. Kleinherne and Kett were rocks at the back, with Berger equal to everything Spain could throw at her, until Bonmati’s late thunderbolt deceived her.
The greater issue for Germany was the attack. The hard work at the back was not being rewarded in the final third. Klara Bühl, Jule Brand, and Giovanna Hoffmann were all able to use their pace to exploit Spain in transition and create plenty of promising openings, only to fail to take advantage of any of them. Ultimately, whilst all eyes had been on Germany’s patchwork defence, it was their lack of threat up front which saw them bow out.
Bonmati is back with a bang
It may have taken longer than fans had hoped, but Bonmati has finally arrived at Euro 2025, and in the nick of time too. Out with viral meningitis on the of the tournament, Spain have been able to mitigate her absence from the starting XI in the earlier matches through the shear quantity of quality they possess. But as Spain have progressed deeper, her influence in the team has slowly restored itself. Against Switzerland, it was her delicate backheel which unlocked a stubborn Swiss defence to assist Del Castillo for the opening goal. Here, her contribution was even more impactful.
In games such as these that are so firmly in the balance, it often takes a moment of pure genius to tip the scales. Any other player in Bonmati’s position would have looked to cut the ball back into the penalty area. Yet she had the vision, clarity of thought, and execution to unleash the perfect strike from that position and win the match.
However, as much as one should celebrate Bonamti’s impact on proceedings, it should not move the spotlight away from the rest of the team. Having started the tournament like an express train, this had all the air of a heavily delayed overcrowded commuter service on the Brighton Main Line. The attack, once so thrilling and exciting, and been reduced to poor final third touches and inaccurate crosses. Bonmati’s brilliance didn’t just stand out on its own merit, it contrasted badly with what the rest of the team had offered up until that moment.
This may well have been the first time Spain had looked ordinary all tournament, however, since the 6-2 win over Belgium, there has been a noticeable deterioration in quality in their play, culminating in Germany almost taking them the distance. A fully in form Spain should have enough to dispense with an England side currently nowhere near their best on Sunday. Instead, any Lionesses fans watching tonight will have taken great optimism from seeing that Spain don’t appear to be operating at their top level either.
You can read all of the latest news, analysis and opinion at Euro 2025 on The Halfway Line.
