International Round-up: Ouahabi’s Spain beat Knaak’s Germany to retain UEFA Nations League | OneFootball

Leila Ouahabi’s Spain retained their UEFA Nations League crown with a 3-0 aggregate win over Rebecca Knaak’s Germany in Madrid.

The first leg, held in Kaiserslauten, had ended goalless meaning all eyes were on who’d come out on top in Madrid.

Spain started the stronger of the two, with Ann-Katrin Berger making an excellent diving save to deny Alexia Putellas after Esther Gonzalez had flashed an effort wide of the mark inside the opening five minutes.

Knaak and co.’s first real chance of the game came soon after, though, with Cata Coll getting behind Franziska Kett’s powerful drive, before reacting well to a deflected Jule Brand effort to smother the danger.

But the Spanish continued to press for the opener, with Esther Gonzalez going close once again with an overhead kick between those two Germany chances.

It remained goalless heading into half-time despite one final big chance for Knaak and co., which saw Nicole Anyomi firing just wide of the post after getting in behind down the left of the Spain area.

Both sides had squandered decent chances for the opener in the first 45, but the deadlock would finally be broken on the hour mark.

Claudia Pina was the scorer, finding the net after a neat one-two with Mariona Caldentey, and two more quickfire goals inside the next 15 minutes would seal it in Madrid.

The first was an exquisite individual effort from Vicki Lopez, who curled home after a jinking run into the Germany box, before Pina added her second and Spain’s third with a vicious effort into the top corner after driving forward from half-way.

The third strike was the pick of the bunch, putting the game to bed in style to ensure Ouahabi’s Spain remain the only side to win the Nations League.