Spain and Portugal are set to clash in Munich on Sunday night, competing to become the first nation to win the UEFA Nations League title twice. Following dramatic semifinal victories, this final promises to be an exciting contest.
Portugal secured their place in the final with an impressive performance against hosts Germany. Despite falling behind early through Florian Wirtz`s goal, Roberto Martinez`s side responded powerfully. A quick double from Francisco Conceicao and Cristiano Ronaldo propelled them to their first final appearance since they won the inaugural competition in 2019.
The excitement in Munich was soon overshadowed by events in the other semifinal between Spain and France. The European champions, Spain, built a commanding four-goal lead, with Lamine Yamal delivering a particularly inspired performance. Although Kylian Mbappe pulled one back with a penalty, Yamal quickly restored the four-goal advantage with his own penalty. However, France mounted a thrilling late charge, sparked by Rayan Cherki`s brilliant debut goal, ultimately falling short in a dramatic 5-4 defeat.
For Spain, a victory would solidify their position as a dominant force in European football, defending the title they secured two years prior. Portugal, however, will be eager to play the role of spoiler against their Iberian rivals.
Recent Encounters
Meetings between these two Iberian rivals have often been filled with drama. Memorable recent matches include the stunning 3-3 draw at the 2018 World Cup and a tense 1-0 victory for Spain eight years earlier en route to lifting the trophy. More recently, they faced each other in the Nations League group stage. In their home tie, Alvaro Morata`s early goal was cancelled out by Ricardo Horta. However, in the return fixture in Braga, Morata, who was an unused substitute in the semifinal, struck in the 88th minute to secure La Furia Roja`s first competitive win on Portuguese soil in 88 years.
Best Bets Insight
Lamine Yamal to score and Spain to win: Yamal was in irresistible form against France, demonstrating his attacking threat with numerous shots and touches in the penalty area. While Nuno Mendes is a capable defender, he may face his toughest challenge yet against Yamal, who consistently performs on the biggest stages.
Predicted Lineups
Portugal XI:
- Diogo Costa
- Joao Neves
- Ruben Dias
- Goncalo Inacio
- Nuno Mendes
- Vitinha
- Bernardo Silva
- Bruno Fernandes
- Francisco Conceicao
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Pedro Neto
Spain XI:
- Unai Simon
- Pedro Porro
- Robin Le Normand
- Dean Huijsen
- Marc Cucurella
- Martin Zubimendi
- Mikel Merino
- Pedri
- Lamine Yamal
- Mikel Oyarzabal
- Nico Williams
Player to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal: Who else could it be? The record goalscorer in men`s international football continues to find the net. Even without his goal against Germany, his overall performance was impressive. Portugal`s tactical setup often channels attacking opportunities towards Ronaldo, and he is always ready to take them, registering a high number of shots in the semifinal.
Match Prediction
While this final may not reach the nine-goal thriller seen on Thursday, both teams possess significant attacking capabilities and have shown defensive vulnerabilities. The match could unfold in several ways, but Spain`s overall consistency might give them the edge.
Predicted Score: Portugal 1, Spain 3
