Italy defeats Spain and puts European champions at risk of elimination

EuroBasket - Italy wins 67-63 against Spain in a crucial qualification match. The Spanish world champions now find themselves in a difficult position for the remainder of EuroBasket with two wins in four matches.

By@Sylvain Sultat

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Italy defeats Spain and puts European champions at risk of elimination

Photo Credit : FIBA

Italy secured a valuable victory against Spain (67-63) in a match that could seal the fate of the reigning world champions. While the Italians had already secured their qualification before tip-off, this game turned into a real survival battle, decided by young talents from both teams.

Spain threatened with early elimination

With this result, Italy joins Greece at the top of Group C with 3 wins and 1 loss. The Azzurri will need to beat Spain in the final round to secure first place in the group. For Spain, the situation becomes critical: if they lose against Greece and Bosnia beats Georgia, the world champions will finish fifth in the standings and be eliminated.

Despite Spain’s explosive start (13-0, 8′), the game quickly turned into a fierce battle. Italy entered the last five minutes with a two-point lead (57-55), before the score was tied at 62 three minutes later thanks to a 3-pointer from Santi Aldama.

Breathtaking finish decided in final seconds

In the crucial moments, Sergio De Larrea made one of two free throws (63-62), but Marco Spissou responded with two successful shots (64-63) to give Italy the lead with 31 seconds remaining. Willy Hernangomez missed the next shot for Spain, allowing Spissou to recover the ball while drawing an unsportsmanlike foul from Joel Parra. He converted two more free throws (66-63), Giampaolo Ricci added one more (67-63), sealing the Italian victory.

It’s official, Pizza > Paella 🍕#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark pic.twitter.com/5gpNDFiDDp

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 2, 2025

Statistically, Mouhamet Diouf was Italy’s top scorer with 14 points, while Saliou Niang recorded a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks) before injuring his ankle in the fourth quarter. Simone Fontecchio, who scored 39 points in the previous game, was limited to 8 points on 2/10 shooting. For Spain, Santi Aldama (19 points) and Sergio De Larrea (16 points) led the offense.

Italy will face Cyprus in their next match and will need to beat the Cypriot hosts and see Spain lose to Greece to finish top of the group.

Sylvain Sultat

Sylvain Sultat suit la NBA au quotidien, entre performances individuelles, dynamiques collectives et grandes histoires de la ligue. Sur BeBasket, il décrypte l’actualité américaine avec passion et régularité, toujours à l’affût des tendances qui font bouger le monde du basket.