Barcelona duo Claudia Pina and Vicky Lopez produced excellent second-half finishes as Spain beat Germany 3-0 in the second leg of the UEFA Women’s Nations League final to retain their title.
With the game goalless after the first leg, it was hosts Spain who took command after the break, having missed several earlier chances.
Pina broke the deadlock in the 61st minute when she found the bottom corner after playing a one-two with Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey on the edge of the box.
Lopez doubled the lead seven minutes later with a curling strike into the top corner after she was allowed to turn and advance into the penalty area.
Pina wrapped up victory in the 74th minute with a sensational dipping strike after intercepting a wayward pass on the halfway line.
Things could have turned out differently, though, had Germany’s Nicole Anyomi not missed the target with the final touch of the first half, with only Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll to beat.
The visitors had failed to score from 19 shots in their home leg last week, but roles were reversed in Madrid as Spain dominated and spurned their opportunities in the opening period.
Esther Gonzalez side-footed wide after Pina’s pass left her with only goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to beat, before an unmarked Caldentey somehow missed the target from eight yards.
Sonia Bermudez’s side kept up the pressure after the restart and deserved their success, although Germany goalkeeper Berger may be disappointed to concede two of the goals, having got hands on both efforts.
Spain were without Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, with the Barcelona midfielder expected to miss the next five months after undergoing surgery on a broken leg sustained in training with the national team.
Spain have now won three of their four major international finals, having lifted the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Nations League.
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