Spain crush Germany to keep Nations League crown
Spain’s title defense in the UEFA Nations League turned into a statement performance in Madrid, as Alexia Putellas described the night as “one of the most magical” of her career after a dominant 3-0 victory over Germany sealed back-to-back European triumphs.
Clàudia Pina delivered the decisive moments, scoring twice in a ruthless second half that broke open a match that had been tense and goalless at the interval. Vicky López added the third as Spain’s home crowd witnessed a performance that blended control, intensity and clinical finishing.
The win comes one week after the first leg ended 0-0 at Fritz Walter Stadion, a result that left both sides with everything to play for. Spain responded with their biggest crowd ever for a women’s national team match as 55,843 fans filled the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The previous home record had been 32,657 for the 2024 final in Seville, a gap that underlined how quickly interest in the world champions continues to rise.
Pina’s opener arrived in the 61st minute and quickly changed the tone of the contest. Germany had spent most of the first half surviving long stretches without the ball, yet looked ready to grind out another stalemate until the Barcelona forward found space and struck the type of long-range finish she is becoming known for. “They’re the kind I like to score on, shooting from a distance. A great game from the whole team,” Pina said after lifting what she called her first major trophy with the national side.
López doubled the advantage seven minutes later to put Spain firmly in control. By the time Pina added her second in the 74th minute, the celebration inside the Metropolitano felt inevitable. The only noise louder than the goals came when Putellas spoke afterward about the atmosphere, calling it one of the best nights of her career. Attendance also marked the second-highest women’s football crowd in the stadium’s history, behind only the 60,739 who watched Atlético Madrid face Barcelona in 2019.
There was one more emotional moment when Jenni Hermoso entered the match in the 80th minute. Spain’s all-time leading scorer had been left out of the Euro 2025 qualifying bid in a surprise decision, although new coach Sonia Bermúdez brought her back for this Nations League run. The home crowd greeted her return with enormous applause, adding another layer to a night already full of narrative.
Spain’s run becomes even more remarkable considering they lifted the trophy without Aitana Bonmatí, who fractured her leg in training on Sunday and is expected to miss five months. Losing the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder could have destabilized almost any team, yet Spain showed the depth, structure and maturity that now defines them at the highest level.
Germany leave Madrid reflecting on two matches in which they struggled to create danger and were pushed back by Spain’s technical dominance. For Spain the implications are different. This repeat title strengthens their claim as the defining team in the modern women’s game and raises questions about how high this group can climb once Bonmatí returns.
With rising attendances, returning stars and a growing collection of silverware, the conversation now shifts to what comes next for the reigning world and European champions. Spain has the momentum, the talent and the belief. The rest of Europe is left to figure out how to close the gap.