Image Credits: @SEFutbol Twitter

Spain vs. Portugal Head to Head: Who Holds the Advantage in the Rivalry Ahead of UEFA Nations League 2025 Final?

Monumental title clash at the Allianz Arena.

Image Credits: @SEFutbol Twitter

Two of Europe’s most cherished footballing giants will lock horns on Saturday, when Luis de la Fuente’s Spain take on Portugal with Roberto Martinez at the helm. Munich will play host to this huge UEFA Nations League final, as La Roja look to add another trophy to the cabinet against their Iberian neighbours. But who holds the edge historically in this long-standing rivalry?

With several young superstars like Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Nico Williams transforming the setup, Spain start as the favourites to defend their crown over the weekend. Meanwhile, Portugal are also former champions of the tournament. Veteran Cristiano Ronaldo will lead the line yet again, after scoring the winner in an upset semifinal victory over Germany. Having freshly signed with Real Madrid, star Spanish defender Dean Huijsen has stated that he is keen on coming up against the Portuguese forward on Saturday.

Portugal is currently on a two-match winning streak – after losing the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinal against Denmark, a late winner by Francisco Trincao sent the tie into extra-time – where the Lusos pulled through. On the other hand, Spain remains on a 19-match unbeaten run including friendlies since last year. While Roberto Martinez is under pressure to win over the Portuguese fans ahead of the World Cup, de la Fuente will have other ideas.

Spain vs Portugal Head to Head Record

As per official records, Spain and Portugal have faced off in the Iberian Derby on 40 separate occasions. So far, the head-to-head record between the teams stands at:

Total Matches: 40
Spain Wins: 17
Draw: 17
Portugal Wins: 6

Spain vs Portugal Past Five Matches Record

In their last five encounters, the record between La Roja and Selecao Das Quinas is:

Spain Wins: 1
Draw: 4
Portugal Wins: 0

The most match-up between the two teams was in 2022, during the UEFA Nations League group stage. Espana’s maestros emerged victorious on the night, courtesy a winner by Alvaro Morata. Prior to this, there were a plethora of draws, including an iconic 3-3 tussle at the 2018 FIFA World Cup where Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Costa recorded doubles.

Spain vs Portugal Recent Head to Head Scores

Date	Winner	Score	Competition
Sep 27, 2022	Spain	1-0	UEFA Nations League
Jun 02, 2022	Draw	1-1	UEFA Nations League
Jun 04, 2021	Draw	0-0	International Friendly
Oct 07, 2020	Draw	0-0	International Friendly
Jun 05, 2020	Draw	0-0	International Friendly
Jun 15, 2018	Draw	3-3	FIFA World Cup
Jun 27, 2012	Spain	0-0 (4-2 Pens.)	Euros
Nov 17, 2010	Draw	3-3	Friendly
Jun 29, 2010	Spain	1-0	FIFA World Cup
Jun 29, 2004	Portugal	1-0	Euros

Spain vs Portugal UEFA Nations League Final Betting Odds

The odds are skewed in favour of La Roja, according to the money line. However, things can change quickly and the margins are fine. Here are the initial betting guides:

Portugal vs Spain in the Nations League final 🤤

🇵🇹🆚🇪🇸 Sunday 8 June#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/SgkFCfQkih
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 5, 2025

Spain Win: 10/11 (Paddy Power)

Spain Win With 2.5+ Goals: 13/8 (Paddy Power)

Lamine Yamal Goal: 2/1 (BetVictor)

Portugal Win: 21/10 (Paddy Power)

Cristiano Ronaldo

FIFA World Cup

Lamine Yamal

Portugal

Soccer

Spain

UEFA Nations League

Sankalp Harikrishnan

A passionate sports fan through and through, I am currently pursuing my MA in Global Sports Journalism. I specialise in tennis and football writing at The Playoffs News, and I have prior experience working at EssentiallySports and Sportskeeda. Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, sport was my safe space right from my childhood. After trying my hand at multiple sports and representing my educational institutions in cricket, badminton and table tennis, I found sports media to be my calling.