Spain keeps Women's Nations League title as Pina scores twice in 3-0 victory over Germany

MADRID (AP) — Clàudia Pina scored twice and Germany crumbled as Spain retained the Women’s Nations League title with a 3-0 victory in the final's second leg Tuesday.

Vicky López also scored after Pina finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with Germany stubbornly hanging on as Spain had done in the first leg, a 0-0 draw in Kaiserslautern on Friday.

Spain was without three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, who broke her leg in training on Sunday.

López took Bonmatí’s place and Spain dominated from the start. Esther González swept the ball just past the post and Mariona Caldentey forced a save from Ann-Katrin Berger early on as the flag-waving fans roared encouragement.

Nearly 56,000 supporters attended the match at Atlético Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium, easily a record for the Spanish team at home. Many children were also present on a cold night in the Spanish capital. None of the supporters seemed to mind the cold with most staying in their seats long after the final whistle.

“One of the most magical nights we have ever experienced, one of the best in my career," two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas said.

“Some of us have been playing for the national team for 13 years and never imagined this," Putellas said of the attendance. "It says a lot about what we have achieved with women’s soccer in Spain. We will continue to inspire girls and boys to fight for their dreams, which sometimes come true.”

González tried her luck with an acrobatic scissors kick, and Mariona, López, and Mariona again all had good chances before the break, with Berger doing well to deny the latter.

Nicole Anyomi had a rare opportunity for Germany in a one-on-one with Cata Coll before the halftime whistle, only to drag her shot wide of the right post.

“That has to go in, and she had another one in the box in the second half,” Germany coach Christian Wuck said. “That’s the difference between us and the technically gifted Spanish players.”

Pina got the party underway in the 61st when she breezed past a German defender and played a one-two with Mariona before beating Berger with a low shot. Berger got her hand to the ball but couldn’t stop its progress inside the right post.

The 19-year-old López scored seven minutes later when she cut in from the right and unleashed a curling shot inside the far post.

Pina sealed the win in the 74th after getting a gift of the ball from Germany’s Janina Minge. The Barcelona forward set off for goal and let fly from around 20 meters (yards) past the despairing Berger.

“The goal was to win again and retain the Nations League title. It was all worth it,” Sonia Bermúdez said after winning her first title as Spain coach. The former team captain took over from Montse Tomé in August.

It was only Spain’s second win over old foe Germany. The previous came at the European Championship last summer when Bonmatí scored in extra time for a 1-0 win in the semifinals. Spain went on to lose to England on penalties in the final.

That was the only disappointment after reaching the finals of the last four tournaments. Spain beat England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup and bettered France in the 2024 Women’s Nations League. Tuesday's win over Germany makes it three wins from four finals.

AP Sports Writer Ciarán Fahey contributed from Berlin.

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

Spain's team captain Irene Paredes lifts the trophy after winning the Women's Nations League final soccer match between Spain and Germany in Madrid, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Spain's team captain Irene Paredes lifts the trophy after winning the Women's Nations League final soccer match between Spain and Germany in Madrid, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Spain's team captain Irene Paredes lifts the trophy after winning the Women's Nations League final soccer match between Spain and Germany in Madrid, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Germany's Franziska Kett reacts after Spain's Claudia Pina scored the opening goal during the Women's Nations League final soccer match between Spain and Germany in Madrid, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Spain players celebrate after Spain's Claudia Pina scored her side's opening goal during the Women's Nations League final soccer match between Spain and Germany in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Spain's Claudia Pina (20) celebrates after scoring her side's opening goal during the Women's Nations League final soccer match between Spain and Germany in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Spain's Claudia Pina, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Women's Nations League final soccer match between Spain and Germany in Madrid, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

TOKYO (AP) — Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed super-bantamweight crown with a unanimous decision victory over Junto Nakatani on Saturday in one of the biggest bouts in Japanese boxing history.

Two judges scored the fight 116-112, while one had it 115-113, all in favor of Inoue after 12 rounds before a sell-out crowd of 55,000 at the Tokyo Dome.

Inoue (33-0, 27 KOs) kept his WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO belts — and then apologized for not delivering a knockout.

The 33-year-old Inoue, nicknamed “The Monster” and hailed as Japan's greatest boxer, also praised Nakatani (32-1, 24 KOs).

“He was a fighter with a strong heart. That’s what makes this win mean so much,” said Inoue, a four-division champion.

The highly anticipated bout galvanized fans here for the past year with former champions and other experts offering commentary. Most predictions had favored Inoue because of his experience, speed and power.

The fight amply displayed both boxers’ dexterity, in offense and defense, with both taking nice swings as well as jabs, but a lot simply failed to land.

The 28-year-old Nakatani, a southpaw, used his longer reach to keep Inoue’s punches at bay, while Inoue simply swayed his body or got out of the way.

The challenger became more aggressive after the sixth round, moving forward to try to land punches. But Inoue used his quick footwork to evade them, landing some jabs back in the process.

“I came prepared so there were no surprises, but the champion was great,” a somber Nakatani said after absorbing his first professional loss.

Nakatani suffered a cut above his left eye in what appeared to come from an accidental clash of heads, and officials said he was going to a hospital afterward to get it checked.

In a closely watched undercard, Inoue’s younger brother Takuma (22-2, 5 KOs) beat former four-division champion Kazuto Ioka (32-5-1, 17 KOs) by unanimous decision to retain his WBC bantamweight title.

“I really enjoyed the 12 exciting rounds, all thanks to my opponent, who is a legend,” Takuma Inoue said. “I want to prove I’m not just Naoya Inoue’s brother.”

Still, Takuma prevented Ioka from becoming a five-division champion, handing that possible honor to his brother, believed to have a good chance of doing just that.

The story of the Inoue brothers, who took up boxing as youngsters and grew up in loving families that encouraged their pursuit, is well known among boxing fans here. Their father Shingo Inoue was at ringside for both fighters, as always.

There was no doubt the big all-Japanese fight had endeared fans to both the skills and personalities of the boxers.

Michifumi Hori, one such fan, proudly wore an Inoue T-shirt and said he was cheering for both Inoue brothers.

“This is something you can’t hope to see for another 50 years,” he said. “I love boxing because it’s about becoming world champion.”

Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama

AP boxing: https://apnews.com/boxing

Naoya Inoue of Japan, right, celebrates as he beat Junto Nakatani of Japan in a boxing match for the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super bantamweight world title in Tokyo, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Junto Nakatani, right, of Japan fights Naoya Inoue of Japan during the sixth round of a boxing match for the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super bantamweight world title in Tokyo, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Naoya Inoue of Japan, left, fights Junto Nakatani of Japan during second round of a boxing match for the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super bantamweight world title in Tokyo, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Naoya Inoue of Japan, right, raises his arms as he beat Junto Nakatani of Japan in a boxing match for the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super bantamweight world title in Tokyo, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Naoya Inoue of Japan, left, punches Junto Nakatani of Japan during the tenth round of a boxing match for the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super bantamweight world title in Tokyo, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)