Spain vs Denmark: Preview, predictions and lineups

European champions Spain continue their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign on Saturday evening when they host Denmark.

Last summer’s Euro 2024 victors are also the defending Nations League champions and have been drawn against Denmark, Serbia and Switzerland in Group 4 of League A. Having picked up four points from their first two matches in the competition during the September international break, La Roja know victory on Saturday will see them leapfrog their Scandinavian foes.

Denmark won both of their opening fixtures 2-0 against Serbia and Switzerland but Lars Knudsen knows a far sterner test awaits his side this time around. The coach took over the national team on an interim basis at the beginning of the Nations League campaign and will be eager to build on impressive wins in his first matches in the dugout.

History suggests Knudsen may be handed his first defeat as caretaker boss against Spain, though. Denmark have lost 13 of their 17 meetings with the 2010 world champions, although this will be the two nations’ first competitive meeting since 2007.

Here is 90min’s guide to Spain vs Denmark.

Spain vs Denmark H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Spain have a whole host of their Euro 2024-winning squad unavailable to them, including Rodri, Dani Carvajal, Dani Olmo and Nico Williams who all miss out through injury. Robin Le Normand was set to miss Saturday’s clash with suspension but the Atletico Madrid defender is absent from the squad entirely due to a ‘traumatic brain injury’.

David Raya is likely to start in between the sticks with Unai Simon sidelined and Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella may well start in the full-back positions. Young Pau Cubarsi has been called up to the squad after missing the Euros and could feature at centre-back.

Martin Zubimendi replaced Rodri at half-time during the Euro 2024 final and is likely to step in for the Manchester City star once more. The man who won the showpiece event for La Roja, Mikel Oyarzabal, could also feature up top.

Spain predicted lineup vs Denmark (4-3-3): Raya; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Zubimendi, Pedri; Yamal, Morata, Oyarzabal.

Denmark have their own injury concerns with Fulham’s Joachim Andersen and Brentford duo Mikkel Damsgaard and Christian Norgaard missing out on the squad. Genoa’s Morten Frendrup is also absent and therefore unable to make his second national team appearance.

Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund has returned from injury in recent weeks and will lead the line, with Jonas Wind, Kasper Dolberg and Yussuf Poulsen all in reserve for Knudsen.

Hojlund’s club teammate Christian Eriksen has been in fine form lately and will start alongside Marseille’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand in midfield.

Denmark predicted lineup vs Spain (3-4-1-2): Schmeichel; Kristensen, Vestergaard, Nelsson; Bah, Hojbjerg, Hjulmand, Kristiansen; Eriksen; Wind, Hojlund.

Spain have obviously reached new heights under Luis de la Fuente but will be tested by an organised Denmark side full of players that represent teams in Europe’s top five divisions. Given the amount of injuries La Roja are suffering with, even a clash on home soil will prove challenging.

Denmark have won their opening two matches of the Nations League and are yet to concede in clashes with Serbia and Switzerland, but Spain’s wealth of riches in the forward line – including young Lamine Yamal – are unlikely to be denied by a Danish defence without Andersen.

Spain should earn victory against Knudsen’s side on Saturday evening but they are unlikely to run up a big scoreline in Murcia.

Prediction: Spain 2-1 Denmark

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