UEFA Women's Nations League Final First-Leg: Germany 0-0 Spain | OneFootball

After an uneventful start to the game, Germany increased the pressure on their star-studded guests starting from the 25th minute mark. Unsurprisingly, Klara Bühl was involved in a couple of clear-cut chances, but she couldn’t provide the finishing touch.

Similarly, her Bayern teammate Franziska Kett was unable to beat Cata Coll when she faced Barcelona’s goalkeeper in a one-on-one chance. OL’s new winger Jule Brand was the next to be denied with the last-ditch clearance from Spain’s captain Irene Paredes.

Rebecca Knaak, who scored in the Manchester derby for WSL leaders Manchester City, had the last chance of the half when Coll mistimed her punch from a set-piece opportunity. Coll also escaped an embarrassing moment when the lively Nicole Anyomi nearly dispossessed her inside the box.

However, Spain started the second-half strongly with Alexia Putellas’ deflected effort the closest they came to breaking the deadlock in the first five minutes. Moments later, Esther González came closer when she hit the post with Ann-Katrin Berger having no chance between the sticks. The duo won the NWSL together with Gotham FC before going head-to-head in international football.

Germany managed to limit Spain’s chances after that, though. At the other end, Bühl continued to ask questions with her incisive play down the left wing. The Bayern Munich winger was denied by the post after cutting into the center and taking a customary shot. A few minutes later, Brand was also thwarted by the woodwork from what seemed like a cross-cum-shot from the other side.

Germany had another good chance in injury-time, but the substitute Shekiera Martinez was unable to penalize the onrushing Coll. Based on the reactions of the two coaches, Sonia Bermúdez is way more pleased than Christian Wück. The winner will be decided in the second-leg on Tuesday at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium.