KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (AP) — Spain escaped Germany with a goalless draw in the first leg of the Women’s Nations League final on Friday.
The title will be decided on Tuesday at Atletico Madrid’s home stadium in Madrid.
Only Kata Koll’s saves and woodworking efforts kept Germany at bay.
“The result is good and we will meet again at the Metropolitano (Stadium),” said Coll. “This is Germany. We knew they were dangerous and we had a chance. Luckily they weren’t sent in.”
Germany dominated the first half in front of a crowd of 40,000 in Kaiserslautern. world champion spain Couldn’t recognize it.
The Spaniard, usually a master of possession, kept losing the ball under German pressure. Three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bommatti went missing during the match as the Spanish national team holed up in the area.
It was around the half-hour mark, when the hosts were at their best, when Col deflected shots from Franziska Kett and Clara Bühl, and defender Irene Paredes cleared Jules Brand’s shots on target in quick succession.
Spain improved in the second half, but Sara Bermudez’s side were lucky to keep pace with their goal of defending their Nations League title.
Alexia Putelas curled a shot that hit the post, and in the 53rd minute, Esther González volleyed in from Mariano Caldente’s cross from the wood.
However, Germany remained in a dangerous situation and the match became an exchange of blows with neither side in the midfield able to control the pace. In the 70th minute, Buhl hit a low shot that hit the bottom of the post, and moments later Brand’s cross hit the bar.
“Everyone who watched today’s game knows that we didn’t just catch up, we played really well,” said German defender Janina Minge. “If we can take our chances and continue to defend like we have been, we can get the win on Tuesday.”
Spain’s first ever victory over Germany came in the 2025 European Championship semi-final. Bonmati scores in extra time.
Spain has reached the finals in the past four major tournaments. They defeated England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup and topped France in the 2024 Women’s Nations League. They lost to England on penalties in the Euro 2025 final.
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