News (engl.)

Germany’s women’s national team fell to a 3-0 defeat in the second leg of their UEFA Women’s Nations League final against defending champions Spain. Claudia Pina (61’, 74’) and Vicky Lopez (68’) scored to seal the title for the hosts, after the first leg finished goalless in Kaiserslautern. 

Head coach Christian Wück named an unchanged starting line-up from the first leg, with Ann-Katrin Berger starting in goal behind a back four of Giulia Gwinn, Rebecca Knaak, Janina Minge and Franziska Kett. Elisa Senß and Sjoeke Nüsken started in defensive midfield, with Klara Bühl, Jule Brand, Selina Cerci and Nicole Anyomi lining up in attack.  

The hosts enjoyed the bulk of possession as the match got underway at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, in front of a crowd of 55,843. Spain didn’t need long to record their first chances on goal, with Esther Gonzalez (4’) and Alexia Putellas (6’) both going close early on. 

Berger denies Caldentey, Anyomi misses chance to put Germany ahead 

Germany also looked for opportunities to break through, with Gwinn placing a shot over the bar (7’). Kett was then able to get off a shot from the edge of the area, but fired too centrally (15’). Wück’s side had managed to find their way into the game at this point, with Brand missing the target in the 30th minute. Germany continued to wait for opportunities to catch Spain on the break, but lacked the ability to finish their chances. 

La Roja’s Mariona Caldentey missed a big chance in the 38th minute, before Lopez only narrowly missed the target (45’). Berger then pulled off a strong save to prevent Caldentey from putting Spain ahead (45+1’). As half-time approached, Anyoni nearly beat goalkeeper Cata Coll but had to watch as her shot sailed just past the far post (45+3’). 

Pina and Lopez seal victory for Spain 

The hosts returned from the half-time break with a vengeance, keeping Germany pinned back inside their own half. Wück’s side did manage to launch occasional attacks of their own, with Anyomi unable to connect fully with a pass from Gwinn (55’) before Cerci sent a shot over the bar (56’). 

Spain then managed to break the deadlock in the 61st minute, as Pina found herself with space to get off a shot from 17 metres out. Wück reacted with his first substitutions of the night, bringing on Shakier Martinez and Cora Zicai for Anyomi and Cerci (66’). Lopez would double Spain’s lead just moments later, curling a shot into the top corner (68’). Pina then put the game out of reach in the 74th minute with her second of the night, driving towards goal and beating Berger with a well-placed shot. 

Kathrin Hendrich and Linda Dallmann then entered the pitch in place of Brand and Nüsken (80’). Germany looked for a way back into the game, with both Bühl (86’) and Gwinn (90+1’) going close. Time got away from them, however, as Spain were able to successfully retain their Women’s Nations League title on home soil.