Spain retained their women’s Nations League title after classy second-half goals from Claudia Pina and Vicky López sealed a deserved 3-0 win over Germany in Madrid on Tuesday.
The world champions had lost this year’s Euros final to England but gained the consolation of winning the second edition of the Nations League having also triumphed last year. The first leg was 0-0.
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The German women have not won a tournament since taking gold at the 2016 Olympics.
The hosts lost star player Bonmati to a broken leg ahead of the game but Pina showed they still had the style to prevail. She played a one-two with Mariona Caldentey on the hour and then sent in a shot which Ann-Katrin Berger probably should have saved.
López then swept in an impressive second soon after and Pina let fly with a superb third.
The sides had drawn 0-0 in Kaiserslautern in Friday’s first leg, with Germany having much the better chances. Coach Christian Wück therefore went with the same starting line-up.
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But this time it was the hosts who made running from the off, with Esther Gonzalez firing just wide of the post and Alexia Putellas forcing Berger into a smart save.
More opportunities followed and it was looking like Spain would be just as wasteful as Germany were in the first leg.
Indeed, Nicole Anyomi almost netted for the Germans with the last kick of the first half in a rare foray forward. But Spain’s dominance paid off in the second half.
Spain players celebrate their side’s first goal during the UEFA Women’s Nations League final second leg soccer match between Spain and Germany at Wanda Metropolitano. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
Spain’s Claudia Pina (R) celebrates scoring her side’s first goal with teammate Ona Batlle during the UEFA Women’s Nations League final second leg soccer match between Spain and Germany at Wanda Metropolitano. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
Germany’s Rebecca Knaak in action during the UEFA Women’s Nations League final second leg soccer match between Spain and Germany at Wanda Metropolitano. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
