An all-Manchester duel on the England left, Lucy Bronze against a new Barcelona team-mate while Georgia Stanway is tasked with stopping the game…the three England-Spain clashes and the semi-final
- The Lionesses quarterfinals against Spain will likely be decided by key fights
- Midfield will be an area that both sides will dominate early on
- Lauren Hemp will face Ona Batlle at a reunion in Manchester
- While Lucy Bronze and Mariona Caldentey will fight on the left flank of the Spaniards
- It will be Georgia Stanway’s job to keep Aitana Bonmati calm in midfield
The Lionesses meet Spain on Wednesday night in what promises to be a delicious duel between two of Europe’s heavyweights.
Lauren Hemp vs Ona Batlle, Lucy Bronze vs Mariona Caldentey to name a few. There will be a number of key battles that England will need to win if they are to progress.
Here, Sportsmail takes you through all the key one-on-one fights that are likely to decide the game Brighton on Wednesday evening.
England right-back Lucy Bronze has had little to defend in this tournament so far
Lauren Hanf vs Ona Batlle
It’s a Manchester duel with City winger Hemp and United right-back Batlle. Hemp gave Batlle a great time in the Women’s Super League last season and will look to do the same tonight.
Batlle is a good reader of the game and a threat for the future.
But she has had trouble dealing with Hemp’s pace in the past and could be caught if Spain continue to play at their high line.
The England winger has scored just one goal in three games and we are yet to see the best of her in this tournament but Wednesday is the perfect game for her to shine.
The presence of Lauren Hemp at left could mean trouble for Spain throughout
Ona Batlle had a torrid spell from Lauren Hemp last season and could be vulnerable again
Lucy Bronze vs Mariona Caldentey
England’s right-back hasn’t had to defend all that much so far this tournament, but she must be aware that her new Barcelona team-mate is drifting into the far left.
Caldentey starts more centrally but likes to open spaces and could target Lucy Bronze’s side if the defender ventures into attacking zones.
The Spaniard is arguably her side’s biggest threat and Bronze will have to do her best to ensure she is not given time or space to cause problems.
Bronze and Mariona Caldentey will be teammates at Spanish club Barcelona next season
Georgia Stanway vs Aitana Bonmati
The midfield struggle will be crucial in Wednesday night’s game and it will be Georgia Stanway who will be tasked with preventing Barcelona’s playmaker from dominating.
Stanway, England’s box-to-box midfielder, must try to stop the game and come forward to support the attack.
Keira Walsh will also play a key role in the center of the pitch but England will want her on the ball instead of Aitana Bonmati so it’s up to Stanway to try to keep the Spaniard calm.
Georgia Stanway has the difficult task of making sure Spain’s midfielders don’t dominate the ball
England will try to stop Aitana Bonmati from getting to the ball on the night
