Women’s Nations League: Spain’s Cata Coll Denies Germany To Keep Final In The Balance

Germany dominated nan first limb of their Nations League last against Spain connected Friday but could not find nan backmost of nan nett arsenic they were held to a scoreless tie earlier Tuesday’s 2nd limb successful Madrid.

The Germans racked up 19 attempts connected goal, but Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll was outstanding successful nan first half, overmuch to nan vexation of nan location fans.

“The consequence is affirmative and we will spot them again successful nan Metropolitano [Stadium],” Coll said. “This is Germany. We knew they would beryllium vulnerable and person their chances. Fortunately, they didn’t put them in.”

The Germany guardant Klara Bühl played a starring role, but her threatening dribbles and powerful shooting could not get nan amended of nan Spanish defence, and nan Germans were almost caught retired erstwhile Esther González deed nan woodwork for Spain conscionable aft nan break.

Despite difficult conditions pinch rainfall falling steadily done nan 2nd half, Bühl ne'er relented and she yet sewage a changeable past Coll, only to spot it bounce backmost disconnected nan ft of nan lefthand station and distant to safety.

Winger Jule Brand followed up that effort pinch a changeable that skimmed disconnected nan apical of nan crossbar successful nan 76th minute, but contempt 19 attempts connected extremity for Germany and 9 for nan visitors, neither broadside managed to score, leaving nan necktie delicately balanced up of nan 2nd leg.

Germany’s outstanding Klara Bühl tries to get nan amended of Spain's Ona Batlle successful Kaiserslautern. Photograph: Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters

“Everyone who saw today’s lucifer knows that we didn’t conscionable support up but played really well,” nan Germany defender Janina Minge said. “If we tin person our chances and support defending arsenic we did we tin get nan triumph connected Tuesday.”

Spain’s first triumph complete Germany came astatine nan 2025 European Championship semi-finals wherever Aitana Bonmatí scored successful other time.

Spain person reached nan finals of nan past 4 awesome tournaments. They hit England successful nan 2023 World Cup and France successful nan 2024 Women’s Nations League, but lost to England successful past summer’s European Championship final.

In nan first limb of nan third-place lucifer successful Reims, Mbock Bathy headed a 96th-minute victor to springiness France a 2-1 lead complete Sweden, who had equalised done Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius successful nan 2nd half.