Spain will continue their defense of the UEFA Nations League title on Saturday against Denmark, the leaders of League A Group 4, in Murcia. The Danish team currently holds six points from two matches, while Spain has four points after a slow start following their victory at Euro 2024 in Germany. Spain began their Nations League campaign with a draw against Serbia before bouncing back with a decisive win over Switzerland. In contrast, Denmark has had a rocky Euro 2024, failing to secure a win in the tournament with three draws and an exit in the round of 16 against Germany, but they have rebounded well with victories over Switzerland and Serbia in the Nations League.
Despite Denmark’s current rank of 20th in the FIFA standings and their interim coach Lars Knudsen at the helm, they have struggled against Spain historically, with only two victories in their last 16 meetings across all competitions. The last time Denmark triumphed over Spain was in 1993 during a World Cup qualifying match.
Here’s how to watch the match:
Date: Saturday, October 12 | Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
Location: Estadio Enrique Roca de Murcia, Spain
Broadcast: ViX and Fubo (offering free trials)
Odds: Spain -275; Draw +360; Denmark +650
Spain, coached by Luis de la Fuente, is unbeaten in their last 12 matches across all competitions, with 10 wins and two draws since a friendly loss to Colombia in March. During this streak, they have consistently scored at least two goals in each of their last nine games, showcasing their offensive strength against top teams like Germany, France, and England. Ranked third in the FIFA world rankings, Spain is expected to come out on top against Denmark, having outscored them 10-2 in their last four encounters.
Team News:
Spain: Rodri and Dani Carvajal will miss the match due to long-term injuries, and Robin Le Normand has a head injury. Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Nico Williams, and Bryan Gil are also sidelined. Pedro Porro and Oscar Mingueza are likely to start at right back, while Pau Cubarsi may partner with Aymeric Laporte. Martin Zubimendi is expected to take Rodri’s place alongside Pedri and Fabian Ruiz in midfield. Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena will support Alvaro Morata in attack.
Possible Spain XI: Raya; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri, Zubimendi, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Baena.
Denmark: The team will be without Joachim Andersen, Mikkel Damsgaard, Christian Norgaard, and Morten Frendrup, with Rasmus Nicolaisen also withdrawing. Rasmus Hojlund is back and could either partner or replace Yussuf Poulsen. The midfield will likely feature Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Morten Hjulmand, while the defense could include Jannik Vestergaard, Rasmus Kristensen, and Victor Nelsson.
Possible Denmark XI: Schmeichel; Kristensen, Vestergaard, Nelsson; Bah, Hojbjerg, Hjulmand, Kristiansen; Eriksen; Poulsen, Hojlund.
Prediction:
Despite missing key players on both sides, Spain is favored to secure a victory. A close match is anticipated, with Spain expected to win 2-1 against Denmark, which would be significant for the standings in their group.