(L-R) Spain players Leila Ouahabi (3rd L) celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the UEFA Women's Nations League final second leg soccer match between Spain and Germany at Wanda Metropolitano. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpaDPATue, December 2, 2025 at 8:06 PM UTC·3 min readSpain retained their women's Nations League title after classy second-half goals from Clàudia 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.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe German women have not won a tournament since taking gold at the 2016 Olympics.
Pina said: "We only had one target, which was to win, and we achieved it. My goals were the kind I like, shooting from distance. It was a great game by the whole team and we have another title."
The hosts lost star player Aitana 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 a second soon after and Pina let fly with a superb third at Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGermany coach Christian Wück told ARD: "In the second half we couldn't keep our levels up. We gave everything but our power waned."
The sides had drawn 0-0 in Kaiserslautern in Friday's first leg, with Germany having much the better chances. Wück therefore went with the same starting line-up.
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.
Rare foray forward
More opportunities followed and it was looking like Spain would be just as wasteful as Germany were in the first leg.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIndeed, 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.
Germany midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken said: "You saw over the two games we can live with Spain. We can take a lot of positives out of the first game. But today the Spanish were just more efficient to break the deadlock.
"If we had taken our chances (in the first game) it could have been different."
The Spaniards were cheered on by a record attendance of over 55,000 for a women's national team game in Spain.
Spain's King Felipe VI was also in attendance as his nation won a third trophy in three years having never previously achieved any women's international honours.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPina added: "More and more people are supporting us, we're working to be even better. I'm especially excited because it's my first title.
"Without the fans, the victory wouldn't have been possible."
Jenni Hermoso, victim of the infamous kissing scandal at the 2023 World Cup final, was given a rousing reception as she came on as substitute in her return to Spain action.
Spain boss Sonia Bermúdez said: "It's a wonderful occasion to enjoy. We knew we would have the support of the people here, and they have been very important."
The host for the women's Euros in 2029 will be announced by European governing body UEFA on Wednesday, with Germany going against Poland and a joint bid from Sweden and Denmark.
Spain players celebrate winning the UEFA Women's Nations League final second leg soccer match between Spain and Germany at Wanda Metropolitano. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
Spain players celebrate winning the UEFA Women's Nations League final second leg soccer match between Spain and Germany at Wanda Metropolitano. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpaAdvertisementAdvertisement
