Spain vs Netherlands Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Spain enters this clash with the Netherlands as firm favourites, despite snatching a late equaliser in the first leg through Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino.

Luis de la Fuente has an excellent record as manager of Spain, as they have won 23 and drawn four of their 29 matches under the 63-year-old, seeing them win the 2022/23 Nations League and 2024 European Championship in the process, scoring 74 and conceding just 21 times.

The hosts have scored at least two goals in each of their last four matches, while the Netherlands enter this game with just two wins from their last seven games since suffering a 2-1 defeat to England in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.

Prediction: Spain 2-1 Netherlands

On Sunday, 23rd March, Spain hosts the Netherlands at the Mestalla in the second leg of the Nations League’s quarter-finals.

Date: 23/03/2025

Location: Mestalla

Time: 7:45pm

The first leg resulted in a dramatic 2-2 draw as Mikel Merino fired in a 93rd-minute equaliser after Tijjani Reijnders and Cody Gakpo had given the Netherlands a 2-1 lead after Nico Williams’ ninth-minute opener. Ajax defender Jorrel Hato was sent off in the 81st-minute of that game.

Since Thursday night’s game, there have been words said in the press between the two sets of players, as Nico Williams was quoted as saying “I’m sure we’ll paint their faces in Spain” while Xavi Simons responded with “Does that Nico Williams quote motivate me? We’ll see what happens”.

The winner of this tie is set to play one of France or Croatia in the semi-finals. Croatia hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg of that tie.

Spain are firm favourites to progress, especially with having home advantage. They were excellent in Group A4 in the Nations League, as they won five and drew one of their six matches, seeing them accumulate 16 points, finishing ahead of Denmark, Serbia and Switzerland.

On the other hand, the Netherlands were underwhelming in Group A3, as they earned just nine points from six matches, winning two, drawing three and losing one while scoring 13 and conceding seven matches.

Spain versus the Netherlands will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video.

Spain

Predicted line-up: Unai Simón; Porro, Huijsen, Le Normand, Cucurella; Ruiz, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.

Netherlands

Predicted line-up: Verbruggen; Geertruida, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Baas; De Jong, Reijnders; Frimpong, Kluivert, Gakpo; Depay.

Spain

Spain have won four and drawn one of their last five matches, with that draw coming in the first leg against the Netherlands.

Prior to that game, Spain had beaten Switzerland 3-2 as Bryan Zaragoza fired in a 93rd-minute winner, while in the run-up to that game, De la Fuente’s side had beaten Denmark (2-1 & 1-0) on either side of a 3-0 home win against Serbia.

Netherlands

The Netherlands have won just one of their last five matches, having drawn their last two games with the likes of Spain (2-2) and Bosnia & Herzegovina (1-1) after beating Hungary 4-0 thanks to goals by Wout Weghorst, Cody Gakpo, Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners.

In the run-up to that game, Ronald Koeman’s men suffered a 1-0 away defeat to Germany after a 1-1 away draw with Hungary.

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