Quick Read
- Spain beat Germany 3-0 in Madrid to win their second consecutive UEFA Women’s Nations League title.
- Claudia Pina scored twice and Vicky López added a third, all in the second half.
- Spain played without star midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, out for five months with a broken leg.
- The match set a new home attendance record for Spain’s women’s team, with 55,843 fans.
- Spain has now won three of the last four major international finals.
Spain’s Ruthless Second-Half Surge Secures the Title
On a December night shimmering with anticipation, Spain’s women’s national football team delivered a performance that will echo in the annals of the sport. Facing off against Germany in the UEFA Women’s Nations League final at Madrid’s Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium, Spain dismantled their rivals 3-0, defending their title with authority and flair (The Guardian).
For Spain, this wasn’t just a victory—it was a statement. Still reeling from the loss of their Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Aitana Bonmatí to a broken leg, and the heartbreak of their penalty defeat to England in the Euro 2025 final, the world champions proved their strength runs deeper than any one star. The crowd of 55,843, a record for a Spain women’s home match, witnessed a team that played not just with skill, but with purpose.
Key Moments: Pina and López Light Up Madrid
With the first leg in Germany ending goalless, everything was on the line in Madrid. Early signs pointed to a tense affair, as both teams missed golden chances. Germany’s Nicole Anyomi nearly broke the deadlock right before halftime, but Spain’s goalkeeper Cata Coll stood tall (BBC Sport).
But it was after the interval that Spain found their rhythm. Claudia Pina, playing with a confidence that belied her years, opened the scoring in the 61st minute. After a deft one-two with Mariona Caldentey at the edge of the box, Pina fired low and hard—Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger got a touch, but couldn’t keep it out.
Spain’s energy surged. Just seven minutes later, Vicky López was given space to turn and glide into the penalty area before curling a sublime strike into the top corner. The stadium erupted. And when Pina intercepted a loose German pass near the halfway line, she surged forward, unleashing a dipping shot that sealed the result in the 74th minute. Two goals for Pina, one for López, and the championship was heading back to Spain.
Depth, Resilience, and a New Era Under Bermúdez
This win was as much about the squad’s depth as its style. Spain’s midfield, missing the creative spark of Bonmatí, still dictated tempo and pressed with intensity. Alexia Putellas nearly scored with a first-half header, while Esther González and Caldentey both came agonizingly close. But Spain’s patience and persistence paid off as the match wore on.
For head coach Sonia Bermúdez, appointed just four months earlier, the triumph was a validation of her leadership and the team’s adaptability. She made bold choices—recalling forward Jenni Hermoso, Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer, for a late cameo after her absence from the Euro 2025 squad. The decision was a nod to both experience and legacy, on a night that blended the team’s storied past with its vibrant present.
“It’s one of the most magical nights I’ve experienced, one of the best of my career,” said Alexia Putellas, capturing the emotion that swept through the stadium (ESPN).
Germany’s Missed Opportunities and Spain’s Golden Run
For Germany, the final was a tale of missed chances and mounting frustration. Across both legs, they fired 19 shots without a goal in the home fixture, and couldn’t convert key moments in Madrid either. Nicole Anyomi’s missed one-on-one just before halftime loomed large as the match slipped away. Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, so often reliable, will rue not stopping two of Spain’s goals after getting hands to both efforts.
Spain, meanwhile, have now won three of their last four major international finals: the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the 2024 Nations League, and now this. Their only blemish, the penalty shootout loss to England at Euro 2025, now feels like a temporary pause in an era of dominance. They are firmly atop FIFA’s world rankings, with the USA, Sweden, and England trailing in their wake.
Record Crowds, Rising Stars, and the Road Ahead
The final in Madrid was more than just a football match; it was a celebration of how far the women’s game has come. The attendance shattered previous records, underlining Spain’s growing passion for the sport. The performances of young stars like Pina and López signal a bright future—one where Spain’s depth and ambition seem limitless.
As fans streamed out of the Metropolitano, there was a sense that they had witnessed not just a victory, but the continuation of a legacy. Spain, battered but unbroken, had shown that football greatness is about more than any single player. It’s about resilience, unity, and rising to the occasion when it matters most.
Spain’s emphatic 3-0 triumph over Germany in the UEFA Women’s Nations League final, achieved without their injured talisman Bonmatí, is a testament to the team’s depth, tactical maturity, and collective belief. With new stars stepping up and a record-breaking crowd behind them, Spain has set a new standard—not just for themselves, but for women’s football across Europe and beyond.
