The world champion condemned Italy to its first defeat of the tournament, but the Azzurre also qualified for the Round of 16 after Portugal lost 2-1 to Belgium.

Italy put Spain under pressure from the start and came close to an opener as Elena Linari's header ricocheted off the crossbar after a corner.

It did get a 10th-minute opener just 39 seconds after Linari's chance, as Elisabetta Oliviero profited from Mariona Caldentey's loose clearance to power in from close range.

Spain equalised fewer than four minutes later, though, when Athenea del Castillo played a one-two with Alexia Putellas, whose clever backheel teed up the winger's curling finish into the back of the net.

La Roja kept the pressure on for the rest of the first half but failed to test Laura Giullani, and it eventually got its second goal four minutes after the break when Patri Guijarro's long-range half-volley snuck into the bottom-right corner.

Sofia Cantore cut inside from the left on the hour to bend an effort at goal, but Adriana Nanclares brilliantly reacted to tip that deflected strike away, before Salma Paralluelo fizzed one wide of the far post moments later at the other end.

Annamaria Serturini saw a late chance for an equaliser cleared by the stretching Irene Paredes, before Esther Gonzalez made sure of the victory in stoppage-time. Her initial volley was parried back to her by Giullani, and she reacted quickly to bundle it over the line.

Spain has now won its past seven matches across the FIFA Women's World Cup and women's European championship, but this is the first time it has won all three of its group matches at a major tournament.