Spain escapes Germany with 0-0 draw in first leg of Women's Nations League final

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (AP) — Spain escaped Germany with a scoreless draw in the first leg of their Women’s Nations League final on Friday.

The title will be decided in Madrid on Tuesday at the home stadium of Atletico Madrid.

Only Cata Coll’s saves — and the woodwork — kept Germany at bay.

“The result is positive and we will see them again in the Metropolitano (Stadium),” Coll said. “This is Germany. We knew they would be dangerous and have their chances. Fortunately, they didn’t put them in."

Germany dominated the first half in Kaiserslautern in front of 40,000 spectators as world champion Spain was unrecognizable.

Normally masters of possession, the Spaniards continually lost the ball under Germany’s pressure. Three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí was missing in action as Spain hunkered down in its area.

Coll deflected shots by Franziska Kett and Klara Bühl and defender Irene Paredes cleared a Jule Brand’s goal-bound strike in quick succession around the half-hour mark when the hosts were at their best.

Spain improved in the second half but Sara Bermúdez’s side was still lucky to not fall behind in its bid to defend its Nations League title.

Alexia Putellas curled a shot just by the post then Esther González volleyed a cross by Mariano Caldentey off the woodwork in the 53rd.

But Germany remained dangerous as the game became an exchange of blows with neither midfield able to control the pace. Bühl sent a low shot off the bottom of the post in the 70th and a Brand cross clipped the bar moments later.

“Everyone who saw today’s match knows that we didn’t just keep up but played really well,” Germany defender Janina Minge said. "If we can convert our chances and keep defending as we did we can get the win on Tuesday.”

Spain’s first ever victory over Germany came at the 2025 European Championship semifinals where Bonmatí scored in extra time.

Spain has reached the finals of the last four major tournaments. It beat England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup and bettered France in the 2024 Women’s Nations League. It fell to England on penalties in the Euros 2025 final.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Germany's Selina Cerci, left, and Spain's Olga Carmona fight for the ball during the women's nations league soccer match between Germany and Spain in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Friday Nov. 28, 2025. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)

Germany's Klara Bühl, right, and Spain's Irene Paredes fight for the ball during the women's nations league soccer match between Germany and Spain in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Friday Nov. 28, 2025. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)

Germany's Selina Cerci and Spain's Alexia Putellas, left, fight for the ball during the women's nations league soccer match between Germany and Spain in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Friday Nov. 28, 2025. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)

Germany's goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger reacts during the women's nations league soccer match between Germany and Spain in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Friday Nov. 28, 2025. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)

Germany's Selina Cerci, left, and Elisa Sens chase Spain's Olga Carmona, centre, during the women's nations league soccer match between Germany and Spain in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Friday Nov. 28, 2025. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)

FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Canada beat Slovenia 3-1 to make it five wins from five games at the ice hockey world championship on Friday.

Emmitt Finnie led with a goal and an assist and Denton Mateychuk and Dylan Cozens also scored. Jet Greaves stopped 13 shots as Canada outshot Slovenia 32-14.

Mateychuk, playing in his first worlds, skated to the top of the left circle before shooting past Slovenia goaltender Zan Us at 11:07 in the opening period.

Cozens added the second from the slot with 6:46 remaining in the middle period for his third goal in Switzerland. Sidney Crosby bagged his sixth assist at the tournament.

Finnie made it 3-0 by deflecting in a shot by Morgan Rielly from the blue line in the final period.

Rozle Bohinc scored a consolation goal for Slovenia with 1:05 left.

Canada tops Group B in Fribourg with Slovakia trailing by three points. The teams meet on Sunday.

Canada has won four games in regulation and one in overtime.

In a Group A in Zurich, Germany downed Hungary 6-2 for its first victory at the worlds after four defeats. Leon Gawanke sparked the Germans with a hat trick.

Later Friday, Finland played Britain in Zurich and Sweden faced Italy in Fribourg.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Canada's Sidney Crosby, left, vies for the puck against Slovenia's Miha Bericic, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, left, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Dylan Cozens, second right, celebrates his goal with his teammates Canada's Canada's Macklin Celebrini, left, Sidney Crosby, left, and Canada's Denton Mateychuk, right, centre, after scoring during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, left, concedes his second goal past Slovenia's Blaz Gregorc, right, and Canada's Sidney Crosby, center, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, right, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)