Match preview for Portugal v Spain
History will be made irrespective of the result in Munich’s Allianz Arena on Sunday, with Portugal and Spain facing off in ‘The Iberian Derby’ to become the first team to win the Nations League trophy for a second time.
Portugal won the inaugural competition at the end of the 2018-19 season, while Spain are the current holders having defeated the Netherlands in 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo led the Seleção out that day six years ago and the 40-year-old will likely start for Portugal again on Sunday after scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 semi-final victory against Germany on Wednesday.
Ronaldo’s goalscoring pedigree continues to belie his age. His strike against Germany – his 137th international goal – was his 42nd goal for club and country this season.
Having recently ruled himself out of playing at this summer’s Club World Cup, the forward will be hoping he can end a trophyless domestic season with some international silverware.
Spain, meanwhile, will go into the game as slight favourites. The European champions are the highest ranked European team in Fifa’s world rankings and overcame France in a memorable 5-4 semi-final victory on Thursday courtesy of another dazzling performance from teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
The 17-year-old Barcelona prodigy and Ballon d’Or contender will be the headline act of Luis de la Fuente’s side, but La Roja’s squad is littered with young talent all over, in the form of Pedri, Nico Williams and Real Madrid’s new signing, Dean Huijsen.
Portugal vs Spain in the Nations League final 🤤
🇵🇹🆚🇪🇸 Sunday 8 June#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/SgkFCfQkih
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 5, 2025
Team news for Portugal v Spain
Both squads are almost unfairly blessed with quality. In Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and Joao Neves, Portugal have three of PSG’s Champions League-winning stars, while boasting experience in abundance in the form of Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Dias.
All are fit and available, with manager Roberto Martinez known for keeping faith with his core group of players. It seems likely Vitinha, arguably the best central midfielder in European club football right now, will return to the starting XI after his substitute appearance against Germany.
For Spain, De la Fuente was forthright in his post-France assessment: “There’s not a lot I have to change for Sunday.”
He was referring to his team’s playing style but it seems unlikely the personnel will change all that much.
Yamal, Nico Williams and Pedri are all fit, while Fabian Ruiz, another key figure in PSG’s Champions League triumph, could also start after featuring for 25-minutes in the semi-final.
Expected line-ups for Portugal v Spain
Portugal: Diogo Costa; Nelson Semedo, Ruben Dias, Gonçalo Inacio, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves; Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Pedro Neto
Spain: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Le Normand, Huijsen, Cucurella; Pedri, Fabian Ruiz: Yamal, Merino, Williams; Oyarzabal
☺️🇩🇪 Hallo, München! #VamosEspaña | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/sfo1FEbGxp
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 7, 2025
How to watch Portugal v Spain: TV channel, online stream
The Nations League final between Portugal and Spain will be broadcast live on major sports networks across Europe.
In the UK and Ireland, the match will be shown live and free for viewers on ITV 1, with coverage starting at 7:30pm.
The stats for Portugal v Spain
- Last meeting: Portugal 0–1 Spain (Nations League, September 2022)
- Head-to-head record: 40 meetings – 7 wins for Portugal, 16 wins for Spain, 17 draws
- Portugal form: WDLWW
- Spain form: WWDDW
- Nations League top scorers 2024/25: Portugal – Ronaldo (7 goals); Spain – Oyarzabal and Yamal (both 3 goals)
