Aitana Bonmati returns for Spain a week after viral meningitis hospitalisation
Bonmati, 27, entered the field in the 81st minute at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern in place of goalscorer Vicky Lopez in Spain's fifth and final change of the game. The world champions were leading 4-0 at the time of her introduction and went on to add a fifth in stoppage time.
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Bonmati missed Spain's final pre-tournament friendly against Japan on Friday, posting a photo of herself watching the game from a hospital bed with a cannula in her arm.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) later confirmed her diagnosis, before she was discharged on Sunday and re-joined the Spain squad on Monday. Uncertainty remained over her availability ahead of their Euro 2025 group stage opener against Portugal.
The midfielder returned to individual training at the beginning of the week, and Spain head coach Montse Tome said ahead of Thursday's game that while she was progressing well and keen to play, they had to manage her carefully.
'I want to convey Aitana's desire to play; we have to slow her down. According to the medical staff, her progress is positive. Obviously, her health is the most important thing, but her progress is positive.'
According to the British National Health Service (NHS), viral meningitis typically takes seven to 10 days to fully recover from. It is unclear when Bonmati was first diagnosed.
Spain were 5-0 winners over Portugal, with goals from Alexia Putellas, Lopez and two from Esther Gonzalez giving Tome's side a 4-0 half-time lead. Cristina Martin-Prieto added a fifth in the 93rd minute to leave Spain top of Group B, level on points with the winner from the earlier game, Italy, but ahead on goal difference.
Spain return to action against Belgium on July 7 before facing Italy on July 11 to close out the group stage.
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