Netherlands v Spain Match Result
It’s hard to bet again Spain when they take to the field against any opponent. In their past fifteen matches, fourteen have gone the way of La Roja and they can be excused for a goalless draw in Serbia which happened after their amazing Euro 2024 success, with Luis de la Fuente’s team one of the best to represent the country.
Spain knocked out France and Germany at the knockout stage before deservedly overcoming England, with the Nations League campaign seeing them claim a brace of victories over Switzerland and Denmark, while they were also able to take four points off Serbia and they are very much regarded as the best in the world.
The Spanish don’t have to win this first leg encounter and will be confident that they can get the job done in Valencia against an opponent who could be dangerous in Rotterdam. The Oranje have had somewhat indifferent form in the past twelve months, losing 2-1 to England in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
Their two Nations League group wins were emphatic ones, with a 5-2 success against Bosnia being followed by a 4-0 victory against Hungary. However, there were also three draws along with a 1-0 defeat in Germany which meant they finished second in the section and this was probably the toughest opponent they could have been drawn against.
The Dutch won’t want to go to the Mestalla with the scoreline level and those emphatic wins against the Bosnians and Hungarians will provide encouragement, although their defence might struggle to shut out dangerous opponents. Perhaps a draw is the best outcome that they can manage.
Goals Under/Over
The bookies think that the first leg clash between Netherlands and Spain will go over the 2.5 goals line. It’s easy to see why considering that we’re talking about two attacking sides who will both be going for a victory in this game. However, three of the previous four clashes involving the Dutch have gone under the goals line, including 1-1 draws with Hungary and Bosnia.
Previously to this, there were six consecutive clashes where we saw the Netherlands’ matches feature three goals or more, with Spain certainly capable of boosting the goal tally in this game. After a 0-0 draw at Serbia, four of the resulting five Nations League group encounters saw the action go over the 2.5 goals live, with the latest match being a 3-2 win over Switzerland.
BTTS
BTTS Yes looks a likely outcome when you look at the stats. Spain’s last game on the road was a 2-1 victory at Denmark, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Ayoze Perez able to help La Roja to a success and that came after a 4-1 success in Switzerland. Joselu and Ferran Torres were on target in that game, with Fabian Ruiz scoring two goals on that occasion.
The key thing with Spain is that they have so many different players who are able to find the net, with Aymeric Laporte, Alvaro Morata and Alex Baena on the scoresheet against Serbia. It is going to be interesting to see how Netherlands can stop their opponents from scoring and this could quickly descend into a high-scoring shoot-out.
Should you think that the BTTS Yes outcome will happen, then you might want to consider a win for Spain to pair with the above selection. That means you go from having odds-on selections to odds-against, with three of Spain’s five victories in the Nations League also seeing their opponents scoring. All four of the knockout games at Euro 2024 also saw BTTS happening as La Roja went through.
First Goalscorer
Alvaro Morata continues to be the captain of the national side, with the Galatasaray forward having 37 goals in 84 games, although some customers might prefer the chances of Lamine Yamal.
The starlet lit up the stage at Euro 2024 and has three goals in seventeen appearances, with Ferran Torres his club team-mate who has scored twenty-one goals in the space of forty-eight caps.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored thirteen goals in the space of forty-one appearances for the Spanish national side, with Dani Olmo capable of chipping in with goals from a midfield position. The Dutch will hope that Cody Gakpo can make an impression after being hit with injury for Liverpool recently.
Justin Kluivert will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father Patrick and a first international goal surely isn’t too far away, with Donyell Malon having made a recent move to Aston Villa in England. Denzel Dumfries is a bigger priced alternative who can strike for his country and he’s notched nine goals in the space of sixty-three appearances from a wing-back position.