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<\/p>\nKAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (AP) \u2014 Spain escaped Germany with a scoreless draw in the first leg of their Women\u2019s Nations League final on Friday.<\/p>\n
The title will be decided in Madrid on Tuesday at the home stadium of Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n
Click to Gallery<\/p>\n
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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)<\/p>\n
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Germany’s Klara B\u00fchl, 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)<\/p>\n
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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)<\/p>\n
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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)<\/p>\n
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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)<\/p>\n
Only Cata Coll\u2019s saves \u2014 and the woodwork \u2014 kept Germany at bay. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe result is positive and we will see them again in the Metropolitano (Stadium),\u201d Coll said. \u201cThis is Germany. We knew they would be dangerous and have their chances. Fortunately, they didn\u2019t put them in.”<\/p>\n
Germany dominated the first half in Kaiserslautern in front of 40,000 spectators as world champion Spain was unrecognizable.<\/p>\n
Normally masters of possession, the Spaniards continually lost the ball under Germany\u2019s pressure. Three-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner Aitana Bonmat\u00ed was missing in action as Spain hunkered down in its area.<\/p>\n
Coll deflected shots by Franziska Kett and Klara B\u00fchl and defender Irene Paredes cleared a Jule Brand\u2019s goal-bound strike in quick succession around the half-hour mark when the hosts were at their best.<\/p>\n
Spain improved in the second half but Sara Berm\u00fadez\u2019s side was still lucky to not fall behind in its bid to defend its Nations League title.<\/p>\n
Alexia Putellas curled a shot just by the post then Esther Gonz\u00e1lez volleyed a cross by Mariano Caldentey off the woodwork in the 53rd.<\/p>\n
But Germany remained dangerous as the game became an exchange of blows with neither midfield able to control the pace. B\u00fchl sent a low shot off the bottom of the post in the 70th and a Brand cross clipped the bar moments later.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone who saw today\u2019s match knows that we didn\u2019t just keep up but played really well,\u201d Germany defender Janina Minge said. “If we can convert our chances and keep defending as we did we can get the win on Tuesday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spain\u2019s first ever victory over Germany came at the 2025 European Championship semifinals where Bonmat\u00ed scored in extra time.<\/p>\n
Spain has reached the finals of the last four major tournaments. It beat England in the 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup and bettered France in the 2024 Women\u2019s Nations League. It fell to England on penalties in the Euros 2025 final.<\/p>\n
AP soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Germany’s Klara B\u00fchl, 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)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 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)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 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)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 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)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Flamengo and Palmeiras seek their fourth Copa Libertadores titles and South American bragging rights in the final on Saturday in Lima.<\/p>\n The teams have won the Copa twice in the last six years and they’ve also competed for Brazilian league supremacy for almost a decade.<\/p>\n Flamengo and Palmeiras have been favorites at every edition of the Copa since 2019. Financially troubled at the start of the 2010s, the clubs have become economic powerhouses after finding stability and making big signings.<\/p>\n According to Transfermarkt, which specializes in valuing footballers, the squads have a combined value of more than $470 million.<\/p>\n Their last encounter at Maracana Stadium on Oct. 19 saw Flamengo win 3-2 after a fierce battle.<\/p>\n Flamengo coach Felipe Luis relies heavily on two former Atletico Madrid players, winger Samuel Lino and midfielder Sa\u00fal \u00d1\u00edguez. Former Italy midfielder Jorginho and Uruguay international Giorgi\u00e1n de Arrascaeta are also expected to feature in the lineup.<\/p>\n Coach Abel Ferreira will be under pressure to land his third Copa with Palmeiras, especially because his team looks like losing the Brazilian league crown to Flamengo. He is hoping former Barcelona striker Vitor Roque can sparkle in Estadio Monumental.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a final, we know most about each other, but this will be decided by details. It is about where each piece can play,\u201d Ferreira said on Friday. \u201cI like players who can fill different roles. And that could be a surprise, the players’ dynamic.\u201d<\/p>\n Palmeiras spared its entire starting lineup on Wednesday in a 3-2 Brazilian league defeat at Gremio. Flamengo fielded several starters in its 1-1 draw at Atletico Mineiro.<\/p>\n Four years ago in the Copa final, Ferreira’s tactics were key as Palmeiras beat Flamengo 2-1 in extra time after a mistake from another player who will be involved on Saturday.<\/p>\n Former Manchester United and Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira was then a Flamengo player. He lost the ball under pressure from striker Deyverson, who ended up scoring the winning goal.<\/p>\n Pereira, who has also played for Brazil recently, says he has been troubled by that error every day since. But on Saturday he will be playing for Palmeiras.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we came back, people wanted to destroy the bus, attack my house. We had to leave the bus early and get another car,\u201d said Pereira, who joined Fulham five months after the final.<\/p>\n Whoever wins will give Brazil its 25th Copa title, equalling Argentina’s tally.<\/p>\n The champion takes home $24 million and a place in the 2029 Club World Cup. It will also play in the Recopa against Lan\u00fas, which won the Copa Sudamericana last Saturday. The runner-up receives $7 million.<\/p>\n
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