Forget your concert and show tickets – Luis de la Fuente’s brilliant Spain delivers all the necessary excitement. “La Roja” triumphed in a thrilling Nations League semi-final against France, securing a 5:4 victory. Now, they face off for the coveted trophy.In the decisive final match, Yamal and his teammates will challenge the Portuguese national side, featuring the enduring Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal achieved one remarkable feat to reach the final, overcoming Germany, but they need another to claim the title. Can Roberto Martinez devise a strategy to unlock Spain’s formidable squad?

▪️ Navigating Difficulties: Portugal’s Road to the Final

It wasn’t easy, but Portugal successfully navigated their way to the Nations League final. In the quarter-finals, Roberto Martinez’s squad overcame Denmark with a 5-3 aggregate scoreline, needing extra time. The semi-final against Germany was equally challenging; they had to fight back from a 0-1 deficit. Martinez’s tactical changes and substitutions altered the game’s dynamic, with Francisco Conceicao and Pedro Neto playing key roles. A notable characteristic of this team is their adaptability: Portugal can both defend resolutely and excel with the ball, whether exploiting open spaces or engaging in structured positional attacks.

▪️ Full Strength for the Crucial Showdown

Portugal appears to have no significant absences impacting their core strength. While defender Cancelo is unavailable due to injury, coach Martinez possesses ample depth and options in the defensive department.

▪️ Offensive Powerhouse, Defensive Concerns

Spain seems to embody the philosophy: ‘You score what you can, we score what we want.’ They emulate the attacking prowess of legends like Pelé. Consider this: “La Roja” has conceded at least two goals in four consecutive Nations League matches, yet they’ve reached the final. Their quarter-final tie against the Netherlands finished 5-5 on aggregate, decided by penalties, while they outlasted a weakened French defense 5-4 in the semi-final. While defensive solidity isn’t their strong suit, Spain possesses formidable offensive weapons that compensate effectively.

▪️ Key Absences, but Depth Prevails

Spain is currently without Rodri and Carvajal due to injuries. While they are important players, has their absence significantly impacted the team’s performance? Coach Luis de la Fuente benefits from impressive depth across the squad. Ferran Torres and Laporte are also sidelined for similar reasons, although their unavailability is perhaps less critical.

🔖 Predicted Lineups

Portugal (4-2-3-1): Costa — J. Neves, Dias, Inácio, Mendes — Vitinha, Silva — Conceição, Fernandes, Neto — RonaldoWill not play: Cancelo (injury)Head Coach: Roberto MartinezSpain (4-3-3): Simón — Porro, Le Normand, Huijsen, Cucurella — Merino, Zubimendi, Pedri — Yamal, Oyarzabal, N. WilliamsWill not play: Rodri, Laporte, Carvajal, F. Torres (all – injury) Head Coach: Luis de la Fuente✏️ Referee: Sandro Schärer (Switzerland)In the 2024/25 campaign, this referee has overseen 33 matches across various competitions. The seasoned Swiss official is frequently assigned to high-profile games.

• His average for yellow cards stands at 3.64 per match.
• He averages 24.61 fouls called per game.
• He has issued 4 red cards this season (12% of matches).
• Ten penalties have been awarded under his whistle (30% of matches).

This referee tends to allow physical play, setting a relatively high foul threshold. Both domestically and internationally, the Swiss arbiter is known for a permissive style of officiating. He is generally hesitant to issue cards without clear justification.

▪️ Taking the Game to Spain: Portugal’s Offensive Mandate

Luis de la Fuente empowers his talented players, and they consistently deliver dazzling performances. Spain’s exceptionally dynamic attack is so potent and versatile that preventing them from scoring, let alone keeping a clean sheet, appears incredibly difficult for Portugal and arguably any other team. Conversely, “La Roja” has shown defensive frailties, having conceded nine goals in their three Nations League playoff fixtures. Portugal also boasts a cohesive attacking unit and the personnel to exploit these Spanish vulnerabilities. A proactive, daring approach from Portugal is essential, as it seems the only viable method to challenge this Spanish side.

☑️ Portugal vs Spain Match Prediction: Draw at Odds 3.68

• Main Prediction: Spanish football offers a captivating display for any neutral spectator. “La Roja’s” vibrant, rapid, and seemingly effortless attack consistently troubles opponents, underscored by their impressive 19-match unbeaten streak. Nevertheless, Spain faced significant challenges in the Nations League playoffs: they ended regular time level twice against the Netherlands (2-2) and narrowly avoided squandering a substantial lead against France (5-4). Spain exhibits a tendency for errors and tactical imbalance, which Portugal is well-equipped to exploit. Roberto Martinez’s side has demonstrated solid performances and results throughout the tournament, suffering only one loss in nine matches, including a notable victory over a strong Germany in the semi-final. We anticipate Ronaldo and the team will hold their ground within regulation time – a feat they’ve accomplished in four of their last five direct meetings. Our confident forecast: A Draw at odds of 3.68.
• Goals Prediction: Let’s look at the numbers. In the 2024/25 Nations League, Portugal’s average goals scored per game is precisely 2, while Spain’s is higher at 2.44. In the knockout rounds (excluding extra time), Martinez’s squad found the net five times across three matches, whereas Spain netted nine. Crucially, both nations conceded in all three of their respective final stage fixtures. This strongly suggests goals at both ends, wouldn’t you agree? We are backing “Both Teams to Score – Yes” at odds of 1.57.
• Correct Score Prediction: Spain has managed to score at least two goals in each of their last six matches across all competitions. It seems unlikely that Portugal will completely shut them out. Nevertheless, we anticipate that Martinez’s team will also generate scoring chances, capitalizing on the noted defensive vulnerabilities of “La Roja”. We foresee a goal-filled contest and recommend a wager on a Correct Score of 2-2 within regular time, offered at appealing odds of 12.00.