Spain vs Netherlands prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League A – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-03-22 19:45.
[p]A stoppage-time equaliser earned Spain a valuable 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in Thursdayâs first leg of the UEFA Nations League (UNL) quarter-finals. They have home advantage for the second leg, which will be played at Valenciaâs Mestalla, and Spain will need all the advantages they can get to advance after winning just one of their last nine against the Netherlands (D3, L5).[/p]
[p]Overcoming that psychological hurdle against the Dutch will be tough, but Spain can fall back on an incredible current 17-match unbeaten run (W14, D3), a set of results which saw them win Euro 2024. Also the defending UNL champions, Spain won all three of their home games in the UNL group stage this time around, while they havenât failed to win consecutive competitive games since they were eliminated from the 2022 World Cup, so there are still plenty of positive omens for Luis de la Fuenteâs men here. [/p]
[p]Despite that commanding H2H record against Spain, the Netherlands will have to turn around some poor recent form to progress here, with the first-leg draw meaning the Oranje have won just one of their last six internationals (D4, L1), all of which came in this competition. The Dutch have tended to perform well in the UNL though, reaching the finals in two of the previous three editions, but to do so in this edition theyâll have to win on the road for the first time in this UNL cycle (D2, L1). [/p]
[p]With none of those three games seeing more than two total goals, neutrals may end up being disappointed in terms of entertainment in what could be a tense game. There was plenty of goalmouth action the last time the Netherlands beat an opponent currently ranked inside FIFAâs top ten, albeit their 4-1 victory against Belgium came in September 2022, and the highest-ranked nation theyâve beaten since was Turkey (#28). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: An Ălvaro Morata goal would point towards a handsome Spain victory as theyâve won by 2+ goals on his last five international scoring appearances. The Netherlandsâ Cody Gakpo was on target in the first leg – six of his last nine international goals served as the second of the game. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: Spain have scored after half-time in their last six games.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]