Spain Dominates Sweden 4-0 in Women's Nations League Semi-Final First Leg

Spain Secures Decisive Victory in Nations League Semi-Final

Malaga, Spain – Reigning champions Spain delivered a dominant performance on Friday, October 24, 2025, defeating Sweden 4-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Women's Nations League semi-final. The match, held at the Estadio La Rosaleda in Malaga, saw a brace from both Alexia Putellas and Claudia Pina, giving Spain a significant advantage heading into the second leg. This crucial encounter also marked the debut of Sonia Bermúdez as the head coach for the Spanish national team.

Putellas and Pina Lead the Scoring Spree

Spain wasted no time asserting their authority, with Alexia Putellas opening the scoring in the 11th minute with a spectacular curling free-kick that left the Swedish goalkeeper with no chance. Putellas later commented on her goal, stating, 'The free-kick for the first goal was perfect. As soon as the ball left my foot, I knew it was on target, and fortunately it went in.' Claudia Pina doubled Spain's lead in the 32nd minute with a well-placed finish. Just three minutes later, Pina played a pivotal role in Spain's third goal when her shot hit the crossbar, allowing Putellas to tap in the rebound in the 35th minute. Pina then sealed the comprehensive victory with her second goal late in the game, completing the 4-0 rout.

Context and Coach's Debut

This semi-final clash was a significant event for Spain, who are not only the defending UEFA Women's Nations League champions but also the reigning World Champions from 2023. The match was the first under new head coach Sonia Bermúdez, who took charge of the national team for the first time. Her debut was met with an emphatic victory, setting a positive tone for her tenure. The team also saw the return of key players Jenni Hermoso and Mapi León to the national squad. However, the victory was slightly marred by an injury to Salma Paralluelo, who had to leave the field with a knee concern.

Looking Ahead to the Second Leg

The commanding 4-0 lead places Spain in an excellent position for the second leg, which is scheduled to take place next week in Gothenburg, Sweden. The victorious semi-finalists will advance to a two-legged final set for November 28 and December 2. In the other semi-final first leg, Germany secured a 1-0 victory over France. Sweden's coach, Tony Gustavsson, acknowledged Spain's superiority, stating, 'Our first ten minutes were really good, but a brilliant free-kick makes it 1-0, goals affect matches and Spain were better than us. The goal in stoppage time to make it 4-0 hurts, as I was happy with the courage the players showed in the second half.'