Preview: Denmark vs. Spain – prediction, team news, lineups

Spain will bid to secure the top spot Group 4 in League A in 2024-25 UEFA Nations League when they need to Denmark Friday night for what promises to be an exciting affair.

La Roja have already booked their place in the quarter-finals but are yet to clinch first place, while Denmark are yet to guarantee their place in the last eight of the competition ahead of their final two matches.

Match preview

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Denmark have won two, drawn one and lost one of their four matches in Group 4 of League A to collect seven points, leaving them in second place, three points above third-placed Serbia and three from leaders Spain.

The red and whites opened their 2024-25 Nations League campaign with successive wins over Switzerland and Serbia, but they were then beaten 1-0 in Spain before drawing 2-2 with Switzerland last time out.

Denmark finish their group stage campaign away to Serbia on November 18 and are in pole position to finish second, but poor results in their last two games could see them drop out of the top two.

This match will mark Brian Riemer‘s first game in charge of Denmark, with the 46-year-old confirmed as the new manager on October 24, having previously been in charge of Anderlecht.

Denmark have won just two of their previous 17 games against Spain, with their last success over Friday’s opponents proving to be a 1-0 win in a World Cup qualifier back in March 1993.

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Spain have won seven and drawn one of their last eight meetings with Denmark, including a 1-0 success in the reverse fixture last month, with Martin Zubimendi decide the game in the 79th minute.

Luis de la Fuente‘s team are top of Group 4 in Liga A with 10 points thanks to a record of three wins and one draw from four games and are already through to the quarter-finals of the competition.

A draw would be enough for them to secure top spot on Friday, but a defeat would blow the group wide open, especially if Serbia were also to overcome Switzerland on the same night.

Spain, who conclude their group stage campaign at home to Switzerland on November 18, are holders of the Nations League, having won the 2022-23 campaign and beating Croatia in the final.

La Roja also famously won Euro 2024 and are unbeaten in all competitions since a friendly with Colombia in March, although the national team have not lost a competitive game since a Euro 2024 qualifier with Scotland back in March 2023.

Denmark’s Nations League form:

Denmark form (all competitions):

Spain’s Nations League form:

Spain form (all competitions):

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New Denmark head coach Riemer has a number of big decisions to make when it comes to his team selection for this game, especially in the final third of the field.

Rasmus Højlund has scored just twice for Man United this season, but the 21-year-old has seven goals in 20 caps for his country and is expected to be given the nod in the final third of the field, covering Kasper Dolberg and Yussuf Poulsen.

Højlund’s club mate Christian Eriksen is also back from a recent injury and should start, while perhaps only a fourth cap for the talented Patrick Dorgu as a left-sided wing-back.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg must be connected Morten Hjulmand in the middle of midfield, while it is likely that Joachim Andersenwho has been in strong form for Fulham this season, will be introduced in the back three.

As for Spain, Pau Torres has been forced to withdraw from the squad due to a muscle problem, while Unai Simon, Dani Carvajal, Rodri, Gift and Lamin Yamal are notable absences for the European champions.

Alvaro Morata had been a doubt due to a head injury sustained in training with AC Milan, but the captain should start and will bid to add to his 37 goals for his country.

Nico Williams and Dani Olmo are also queuing for places in the last third of the field, while Pedro Porro is set to be at right back.

Alex Grimaldo and Marc Cucurella goes head-to-head to the role of left back, while Aitor Paredes, Marc Casado and Samu Omorodion will all be hoping to get their first appearances for the national team on Friday night.

Denmark’s possible starting line-up:
Schmeichel; Andersen, Vestergaard, Nelson; Bah, Hjulmand, Hojbjerg, Dorgu; Eriksen, Højlund, Gronbæk

Spain’s possible starting line-up:
Raya; Porro, Vivian, Laporte, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Ruiz; Olmo, Pedri, N Williams; Morata

We say: Denmark 1-2 Spain

It’s a tough game to call, especially since Spain are missing some key players, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Denmark pick up a positive result on Friday night. However, Spain have such quality in the forward areas and we are backing De la Fuente’s side to navigate their way to all three points in their penultimate game in the group stages.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, please click here.

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