Netherlands vs Spain Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals at Even-money feels like a good punt

Domestic football takes a backseat for a few days with Nations League and World Cup Qualifiers dominating the football calendar.

In Europe, two of the traditional powerhouses meet in the former as the Dutch and Spanish meet at De Kuip in Rotterdam on Thursday evening. No UK TV has been announced by the time of publication for the 19:45 kick-off. Mark Sochon previews the action and gives us two Netherlands vs Spain Predictions to consider betting on with Betfred...

*You can check out all of the Football Odds we offer over at betfred.com

The UEFA Nations League has reached the quarter-final stage, with eight of Europe's strongest sides in action on Thursday night. That includes a tasty clash in Rotterdam, between the Netherlands and current holders Spain. 

While even the latter stages of the Nations League still struggles to capture the imagination of many football fans, Spain showed in 2023 that the tournament can be used as a platform for going on to achieve bigger and better things. 

This week's trip will bring back happy memories for Luis de la Fuente and his side, given they defeated Croatia on penalties in this very stadium to win the 2022/23 Nations League final. A year later, they'd win Euro 2024 in Germany, and La Roja are now strong candidates to win their third trophy in as many years. 

There was no evidence of any kind of Euros hangover in the autumn. Spain won five out of six in their Nations League group, collecting 16 points which was more than any other side in League A. 

The prospect of a new golden era for the Spanish national side now looks very real, particularly given the continued improvement of Lamine Yamal, unquestionably the most exciting teenager in world football. 

Having lit up Euro 2024, Yamal has matured as a footballer this season in Barcelona, and is already in double figures for both goals and assists in all competitions. While Nico Williams has not had quite as impressive a campaign in Bilbao, the 22-year-old has also hit form in recent weeks, so Spain should be in pretty good shape heading into this two-legged tie, at least in an attacking sense. 

There are a few more doubts about them at the back though, with injuries meaning that none of the eight defenders in this squad have yet reached 20 caps. Real Madrid's Raúl Asencio and Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen have been included for the first time. 

This is the first competitive meeting between the Netherlands and Spain in more than a decade, the most recent being at the 2014 World Cup when Robin van Persie's stunning header helped seal a famous 5-1 Dutch victory. 

The Netherlands went on to reach the semi-finals of that competition, and they were also losing semi-finalists in the most recent edition of the Nations League, as well as at Euro 2024 when Ollie Watkins broke Dutch hearts with a 90th minute goal in a 2-1 England win in Dortmund. 

Ronald Koeman is still in charge, and his longer-term goal will be trying to make it an Oranje summer in the United States in 2026. Beating the European champions over the next few days would be a significant step in the right direction, but they weren't entirely convincing during the Nations League group stage. 

While they secured comfortable home wins over Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Koeman's side failed to win any of their other four matches, but they were still able to finish second behind Germany to book their quarter-final place. 

Denzel Dumfries was their unlikely top scorer with three of their 13 goals in the opening stage, a tally that only group rivals Germany could better in League A. The 28-year-old is a notable injury absentee from this squad though, and Koeman will be looking to the likes of Cody Gakpo, Brian Brobbey and Memphis Depay to provide the attacking spark. 

Team News: 

As well as Dumfries, PSV midfielder Jerdy Schouten has also pulled out of this Dutch squad due to an injury. Defenders Stefan de Vrij and Nathan Ake are also notable absentees. 

Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee has not been called up, but Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert will be hoping to be rewarded for his impressive club form with meaningful international minutes in Rotterdam. Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk should skipper the side. 

As for Spain, they've been hit by three withdrawals from the initial squad, with Osasuna winger Bryan Zaragoza and Barcelona duo Iñigo Martínez and Marc Casadó pulling out. Aymeric Laporte, Dani Carvajal and Rodri are also currently sidelined. 

Goalkeeper Unai Simón, who missed the entire group stage, is fit again, although Arsenal's David Raya has been in the better form and is pushing for the number one jersey. 

Netherlands vs Spain Odds

Spain are the 11/8 favourites to win the first leg of this quarter-final tie. The Netherlands are available at 2/1, while you can back the Draw at 23/10. 

Both teams to score is priced at 8/11, while you can back Over 3.5 goals at 5/2 if you fancy this game to really open up and deliver on the entertainment front. 

You can back the Dutch to win either half at 1/1, while they are priced at 10/1 to stun the European champions by winning both halves of this game. Over 1.5 home goals is available at 13/8. 

Alternatively, Spain are priced at 13/2 to win both halves, while you can back La Roja with a -1.00 Handicap at 18/5. 

Álvaro Morata is the 6/1 favourite to score first, while you can back the experienced striker to score anytime at 11/5. Spanish wonderkid Lamine Yamal is priced at 3/1 to get on the scoresheet, while from a home perspective, you can back Gakpo to score anytime at 5/2, or Depay to score anytime at 13/5. 

Bet 1 - Over 2.5 goals @ 1/1 

There were 15 goals scored across the three Netherlands home matches during the group stage, and this has the potential to be relatively open too. 

The hosts will know that they most likely need to win the home leg to stand a good chance of progressing from this tie, but Spain are very capable of striking on the break given the pace and quality they have in wide areas. 

With both sides hampered by some significant defensive selection issues, we could get a fair amount of goalmouth action in this game, and I'm backing Over 2.5 goals at 1/1. 

Bet 2 - Nico Williams 1+ shots on target & Spain over 0.5 goals @ 11/10 

Unlike Manchester City, Spain have not so far been severely hampered by Rodri's injury, with Real Sociedad's Martín Zubimendi the perfect deputy for the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner. He impressed in the group stage, and this is a Spanish side that is capable of controlling games in midfield, but also one that can attack at speed on either flank. 

Nico Williams announced himself to a wider audience last summer on the left wing, and he has shown signs of getting back towards his Euro 2024 highs in recent weeks, with six goals in his last eight appearances for Athletic Club. 

He's had at least one shot on target on each of his last four starts for the national team too, and I'm using the Bet Builder to back Nico Williams 1+ shots on target and Spain over 0.5 goals at 11/10 here. 

Mark Sochon primarily covers Spanish Football for us at Betfred Insights. You can check out Mark's La Liga Betting Tips along with those from the rest of the Betfred Insights Spanish Football writers on our La Liga home page...