Bundesliga
Germany denied by late Spain goal
Timo Werner's goal for Germany was not enough to earn all three points against Spain as Joachim Löw's side conceded a last-minute goal in Stuttgart to begin their UEFA Nations League campaign with a draw.
Germany 1-1 Spain
Goals: 1-0 Werner (51'), 1-1 Gaya (90+6')
Germany’s first international game since November 2019 got off to a bright start with the hosts having the first chance on goal. Thilo Kehrer headed down a Toni Kroos cross to force a save from David De Gea. Shortly after, Rodrigo had Spain's first opportunity to go in front after he pounced on Kevin Trapp's mistake with the Eintracht Frankfurt stranded having come out of goal to clear a long ball, but the goalkeeper recovered to stop his shot. Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane came close after 20 minutes with a curling shot from the right corner of Spain's box, forcing a solid save from De Gea. Both sides wanted to control the tempo of the game but neither were able to take full control. Rodrigo had another chance before the half-time whistle blew but his low shot at the near post was again saved by Trapp.
Löw's side came out of the blocks flying in the second half as Werner put the hosts in front on 51 minutes. Robin Gosens' cut-back put home superbly by the former RB Leipzig striker from close range. Sane was replaced shortly after with what appeared to be a minor knock as Spain forced the agenda towards the end of the second half. Germany defended superbly, though, allowing only minor chances to fall the Spaniard's way until the very last second. Rodrigo was on the end of a dinked cross from the right and headed down to Jose Gaya in front of goal, and the full-back turned and poked the ball home past Trapp to earn Spain a point and leave Germany disappointed to go away without a win.
Line-ups
Germany: Trapp - Can, Süle, Rüdiger - Kehrer, Gündogan (Serdar 74'), Kroos (c), Gosens - Draxler, Werner (Koch 90'), Sane (Ginter 63')
Subs: Leno, Baumann, Tah, Neuhaus, Brandt, Havertz, Waldschmidt
Out: Gnabry (not included), Goretzka (not included), Kimmich (not included), Klostermann (not included), Neuer (not included), Reus (not included), Schulz (calf)
Coach: Joachim Löw
Spain: Kepa - Carvajal, Ramos (c), P. Torres, Gaya - Thiago, Busquets (Merino 57'), Fabian (Oscar 80') - Navas (Fati 46'), Rodrigo, F. Torres
Subs: Kepa, Simon, Llorente, Garcia, Reguilon, Ruiz, Asensio, Rodri, Olmo, Moreno
Out: Ceballos (not included), I. Martinez (not included), Morata (not included), Saul (not included), Traore (illness)
Coach: Luis Enrique
Match stats
- Werner scored his 12th goal for Germany in his 30th international appearance.
- Robin Gosens came on to earn his first international cap, while Oliver Baumann and Florian Neuhaus remain in wait.
- Germany edge their all-time head-to-head record with Spain, with nine wins to La Roja's seven. There have also been eight draws between the two nations.
- Die Mannschaft made it three consecutive games without defeat against Spain. They drew 1-1 in their last friendly in March 2018, and won their November 2014 meeting before that 1-0.
- As well as Thiago and Olmo, Spain right-back Dani Carvajal has also plied his trade in the Bundesliga, playing 32 games on loan at Bayer Leverkusen in the 2012/13 campaign.
- With 16 major honours with Bayern, Thiago is the second-most decorated Spaniard in the history of German football. Javi Martinez - uncapped since June 2014 - has won the most, collecting 20 trophies with the Bavarian juggernaut.
As it happened!
90+6' - SPAIN EQUALISE
A bitter end to this game as Rodrigo rises highest to head down a cross from the right and Gaya is perfectly placed to poke it home beyond Trapp. Right at the death.
90+2' - GINTER DOWN
The Gladbach defender has taken a blow to the face while defending a set-piece in the Germany box. He's back up now and should be able to carry on until the end of the match.
90' - ADDED TIME
Four minutes are added on here in Stuttgart as Robin Koch comes on to replace goalscorer Werner.
87' - RÜDIGER HEADS OVER
Great chance for the Chelsea centre-back who's on the end of Kroos' corner, but can't keep his header down from inside the six-yard box.
85' - GERMANY DEFENDING WELL
Löw's side are still pushed up the pitch, pressing well across both sides but are certainly in a more defensive mode at the end of this game. Werner is still looking threatening on the counter-attack so as Spain push forward, the counter could come into play.
78' - SÜLE HEADS AT GOAL!
Kroos' free-kick from the right side of Spain's penalty area floats to the back post and the Bayern man rises highest to meet it. His effort is tipped over his own crossbar by De Gea.
74' - GERMANY SUBSTITUTION
Suat Serdar is on in place of Ilkay Gündogan.
70' - THIAGO GOES CLOSE
Lovely stuff from the Bayern midfielder has he breezes past Gündogan on the edge of the Germany box before curling a shot at goal. It drifts just wide of Trapp and the posts.
63' - GERMANY CHANGE
Sane comes off having signalled that he needed to be brought off. It would appear that he picked up a knock when racing behind the Spanish defence for the previous chance on goal. He's replaced by Ginter, which sees Can move into midfield.
61' - BIG CHANCE FOR WERNER
Sane is sent flying in behind down the right and plays the ball across to Werner. The Chelsea forward is forced wide of goal and can't get his effort on target from a tight angle.
60' - HALF AN HOUR TO GO
Spain are working themselves back into this game having gone behind but are struggling to open up the Germany defence. Meanwhile, the likes of Sane and Werner are looking dangerous on the counter-attack.
53' - THIAGO STOPS SANE
The Bayern teammates collide as Sane is put in behind the Spain defence. The winger does brilliantly to cut onto his left foot past one defender, but Thiago is back with perfect timing to deny his new teammate a chance for a goal himself.
51' - GOAL! WERNER PUTS GERMANY AHEAD!
Germany break forward superbly with Gosens down the left and he cuts the ball back onto the edge of the Spain box for Werner. He skips past one and two before firing the ball low past De Gea to put Germany ahead.
46' - KICK-OFF!
We're back underway for the second half in Stuttgart with a chance for Spain at the break. Ansu Fati comes on for his debut, replacing Jesus Navas.
HALF-TIME!
An entertaining first half comes to an end in Stuttgart with another good chance for Stuttgart, the best of which have both fallen to Rodrigo. At the other end Sane and Kehrer have come closest for Germany but the score remains goalless heading into the second half.
45' - RODRIGO HAS ANOTHER GO!
The Leeds United forward is away down the left side and closes in on goal after confusion in the Germany defence. He shoots low at goal but Trapp does well to save with his feet. The ball returns to Rodrigo, but he can't make the most of the chance.
41' - END-TO-END!
Entertaining end to this first half with both sides going for goal when possible. Spain working well on the counter-attack so far. If Germany can sneak in front before the break it would be huge.
35' - MIDFIELD BATTLE
The key to this game is certainly in midfield. Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gündogan battling with Thiago, Busquets and Fabian. So far it's an even battle, but if either side is able to take control it can be the difference.
28' - TORRES HAS A GO
Ferran Torres cuts inside and shoots at goal, but sees his effort curl over the crossbar. So far, Germany have kept the Spain attack relatively quiet besides the chance for Rodrigo. At the other end, chances have been few and far between for Löw's side. He'll want to see more attacking impetus from Werner and Co.
23' - TRAPP SAVES WELL
A free-kick curls into the Germany box and lands with Torres at the back post. He does well to head down for Busquets in space, who can shoot at goal from around 10 yards out. However, Trapp is well-placed and snuffs out the chance with ease. A good moment for the Eintracht Frankfurt shot-stopper after his earlier mistake.
18' - GOOD HIT FROM SANE!
The Bayern man collects a loose ball on the edge of the Spain box after Kehrer had challenged in the air. He has space to pick a shot and thumps the ball goalward, forcing a solid save from De Gea to deny the Germany winger.
14' - BIG CHANCE FOR RODRIGO
Spain have their first chance on goal as a long ball causes problems for the Germany defence. Trapp comes out to clear but doesn't do so fully and Rodrigo nabs the ball away from him. He has a chance to shoot at the empty goal with Süle and Rüdiger in pursuit but doesn't take it, and Trapp recovers to stop him in his tracks.
11' - KEHRER WITH THE FIRST CHANCE
Kroos has the ball in midfield and loops a cross to the back post of the Spain box where Kehrer is making a run to meet the ball. The PSG defender heads at goal, forcing the first save of the game for either goalkeeper from David De Gea.
7' - SPAIN ON THE BALL
The away side are enjoying some more of the possession so far here with Germany pressing high as well. Both teams are looking to get on the ball and control the game in that way.
3' - GERMANY SET-UP!
It is a three-man defence for Germany with Can, Süle and Rüdiger. Kehrer and Gosens are the wing-backs and it looks like Sane is playing up front with Werner, while Draxler is in the No.10. Lots of movement though, as you'd expect with plenty of rotation.
1' - KICK-OFF!
We're underway in Stuttgart for what should be a fun game tonight.
TIME FOR THREE IN A ROW
Die Mannschaft could make it three consecutive games without defeat against Spain this evening. They drew 1-1 in their last friendly in March 2018, and won their November 2014 meeting before that 1-0.
A NEW CAP TO BE GIVEN TO GOSENS TONIGHT
In Neuhaus, Baumann and Gosens, there are three uncapped players in the Germany squad. The latter starts tonight with the Atalanta left-back playing at left wing-back this evening. At the other end of the spectrum is Real Madrid's Toni Kroos, who is line for his 98th international appearance.
START OF THE NATIONS LEAGUE
Germany face Spain tonight before playing Switzerland on Sunday. Both games are in the Nations League, with Germany in Group 4 and Ukraine making up the group. A short recap of what the Nations League is all about: teams play each other home and away, with the four group winners of League A qualifying for the UEFA Nations League Finals, which feature semi-finals, a third-place match and the final. The group winners in Leagues B, C and D gain promotion and those who finish bottom of the groups in Leagues A and B will be relegated.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NIKLAS SÜLE
The Bayern centre-back is celebrating both his 25th birthday and his 25th international appearance today. Hopefully he can celebrate a win on his big day.
GERMANY TEAM NEWS
Confirmation of Löw's tactical set-up will have to wait until kick-off with various different formations possible. Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can could be part of a three-man defence, which the Germany head coach echoed towards yesterday, or he could play in a three-man midfield. What we do know is that the attack is led by Leroy Sane, Timo Werner and Julian Draxler.
WELCOME!
International football returns for the first time since November 2019 as Germany play host to Spain in the UEFA Nations League. Joachim Löw is without several key players who are resting after extended playing time during the UEFA Champions League, but has still fielded a strong line-up for the game in Stuttgart tonight.