The Spanish women’s national football team successfully defended their UEFA Women’s Nations League championship with a commanding 3-0 victory against Germany in Tuesday’s final second leg at Madrid’s packed stadium. This decisive performance followed a goalless first-leg stalemate in Kaiserslautern last Friday, ultimately securing Spain’s back-to-back tournament triumphs.
While Germany had controlled proceedings during the initial match, squandering multiple scoring opportunities that would later haunt them, Spain reversed the dynamic on home turf. The hosts launched aggressive attacks from the opening whistle but initially struggled to penetrate Germany’s defensive organization and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger’s resilience.
The match’s turning point arrived in the 61st minute when Barcelona forward Claudia Pina broke the prolonged deadlock that had persisted across both fixtures. Demonstrating exceptional awareness, Pina exploited a momentary defensive lapse by Germany’s Giulia Gwinn. After combining with teammate Esther Gonzalez on the left flank, Pina created just enough space to unleash a powerful strike that deflected off Berger’s touch into the net.
Seven minutes later, rising star Vicky López doubled Spain’s advantage with a spectacular individual effort. Cutting inward from the right wing, the young midfielder expertly curved a precision finish beyond Berger’s reach, sending the home crowd into euphoria.
Pina cemented her Player of the Match performance in the 74th minute with a breathtaking solo goal. Collecting possession at midfield, she surged through Germany’s defensive lines before firing an unstoppable long-range missile that sealed Spain’s championship retention.
Head coach Sonia Bermudez praised her squad’s resilience in post-match comments to RTVE: “This represents a truly special day to celebrate. Our performance in Germany didn’t reflect our identity, but we understood the significance of our supporters’ energy here today. This ambitious group has mobilized 70,000 spectators—a testament to their dedication against formidable opposition.”
