Portugal are currently winless in six meetings with Spain, their most-recent competitive victory over their neighbors coming at Euro 2004. La Roja are unbeaten in 24 competitive fixtures, their longest such sequence since 2010-2013.
Portugal vs Spain preview
The inaugural UEFA Nations League winners from 2019 Portugal take on the competition's holders Spain in the final in Munich, but who will be hoisting the trophy aloft come Sunday night?
Earlier this week, Portugal dumped out the hosts, fighting back from a goal down to defeat Germany 2-1 in Bavaria on Wednesday. Less than five minutes after being introduced as a substitute, Francisco Conceição curled home a breathtaking equaliser before, mere moments later, Nuno Mendes put the ball on a plate for Cristiano Ronaldo to slot home the night's winner.
To reach this final, Roberto Martínez's team topped a section that also featured Croatia, Scotland and Poland, before coming from behind to oust Denmark in the quarter-finals, twice scoring in extra time of March's second leg in Lisbon. Thus, Portugal are now aiming to win the Nations League for the second time, defeating Netherlands 1-0 at Estádio do Dragão almost exactly six years ago, although they're likely to face an even tougher challenge this time round.
That's because Spain sent out a real statement on Thursday night, involved in the highest-scoring match in UEFA Nations League history. La Furia Roja beat France 5-4 in Stuttgart, but that does not begin to tell half the story, considering they were 4-0 up after 55 minutes. Nico Williams and Mikel Merino with quick-fire goals in the first half, before Lamine Yamal and then Pedri were on target mere seconds apart soon after the restart. Les Bleus hit back with two goals of their own, before Lamine balletically poked home a fifth, but there was still time for the French to strike twice more, setting up a rather nervy finish at Neckarstadion, but Spain saw out a quite extraordinary victory.
This win actually means la Roja have now reached three successive Nations League Finals, beaten 2-1 by the French at San Siro in 2021, before capturing the trophy for the first time against Croatia at De Kuip two summers ago, prevailing on penalties. Since then of course, Luis de la Fuente's team have also been crowned European Champions too, underlining that they are the team to beat.
En route to that most-recent Nations League triumph, Spain did oust their neighbours to the west, the duo drawing 1-1 in Seville, before a last-gasp Álvaro Morata goal snatched victory in Braga on the final matchday. Spain also dumped out Portugal at World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012, going onto win both of course, so will this UEFA Nations League Final between these two fierce Iberian rivals go the same way on Sunday?
Portugal vs Spain head-to-head record
- Matches Played: 40.
- Portugal Wins: 6. Draws: 16. Spain Wins: 18.
Portugal team news
Roberto Martínez's team have had 24 hours extra to prepare for this final, so will that be an advantage? Despite beating Germany on Wednesday, he is expected to shuffle his pack.
João Neves is likely to return to midfield, with Nélson Semedo coming in at right-back, while Francisco Conceição's stunning strike off the bench may well have earnt him a start.
Portugal predicted lineup vs Spain: (4-3-3): Costa; Semedo, Rúben Dias, Inácio, Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes; Conceição, Neto, Ronaldo.
Portugal player to watch vs Spain
Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his 137 international goal on Wednesday, this his seventh of the current Nations League campaign. One of his ten hat-tricks for Portugal came against Spain in Sochi at the 2018 World Cup, so could the captain prove to be his country's match-winner once again?
Spain team news
Luis de la Fuente is without key players Dani Carvajal, Pau Torres, Iñigo Martínez, Rodri and Ferran Torres due to injury, but he certainly still has a strong squad at his disposal.
Dean Huijsen only made his international debut during the quarter-final victories over Netherlands in March, but has immediately established himself as first-choice at centre-back. In midfield, following his exploits in the Champions League Final, Fabián Ruiz was only a substitute in Stuttgart, so will he return in place of mid-week scorer Mikel Merino?
Elsewhere, Gavi came off the bench for a late cameo against France, his first international appearance since rupturing his ACL against Georgia in November 2023. Samu Aghehowa made his debut off the bench on Thursday, but de la Fuente will deploy an unchanged front three.
Spain predicted lineup vs Portugal: (4-3-3): Simón; Porro, Huijsen, Le Normand, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Pedri, Fabián; Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal, Williams.
Spain player to watch vs Portugal
Lamine Yamal scored twice in the semi-final success, his sixth international goal already, to add to the 25 he has scored for Barcelona. A month away from his 18th birthday, he's already won five major honours, so will he fire Spain to yet another come Sunday night in Munich?
Portugal vs Spain prediction
We are backing Spain to hoist aloft silverware for a third successive summer. La Roja were irresistible at times on Thursday, so we think they'll be too strong for Portugal in the end: Portugal 1-2 Spain.
Portugal vs Spain FAQs - UEFA Nations League Final
How to watch Portugal vs Spain on TV
Portugal vs Spain will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: ITV1
- USA: Fox Sports and fuboTV
- Canada: DAZN Canada
How to watch Portugal vs Spain on live stream
Portugal vs Spain is available on the following streaming services;
- UK: ITVX
- USA: Foxsports.com and fuboTV
- Canada: DAZN Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Portugal vs Spain?
Portugal vs Spain takes place on Sunday 8 June 2025, with kick off at 20:00 (BST), 15:00 (EDT) & 12:00 (PDT).