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Nations League | Quarter-Finals | 2nd Leg

Mar 23, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Estadio Olimpico de Sevilla

Spain
vs.
Netherlands

Spain vs. Netherlands: Head-to-head record and past meetings ahead of UEFA Nations League quarter-final second leg

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter and Matt Law, Football Editor

Published: March 21 2025 | 14:44

Last updated: March 21 2025 | 15:12

Ahead of Sunday's UEFA Nations League clash between Spain and Netherlands, Sports Mole looks at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two clubs.

Spain will welcome Netherlands for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final on Sunday night, with a spot in the semi-finals of the competition on offer for both sides.

La Roja took a ninth-minute lead in the first leg on Thursday night, with Nico Williams on the scoresheet.

However, Cody Gakpo levelled the scores in the 28th minute before Tijjani Reijnders struck early in the second period to send Netherlands ahead on home soil.

There was to be late drama in Rotterdam, with Mikel Merino netting a last-gasp second for Luis de la Fuente's side, who are the holders of the UEFA Nations League.

The two teams will now lock horns for the second leg of their last-eight clash in Valencia.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two sides ahead of what is shaping up to be a fascinating contest at Mestalla.

Netherlands' Arjen Robben in action with Spain's Carlos Puyol on July 11, 2010 © Imago

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 13
Netherlands wins: 6
Draws: 3
Spain wins: 4

Netherlands and Spain have faced each other a total of 13 times on the international stage across all competitions, including friendlies.

It is the Oranje who currently lead the overall head-to-head record, as they have won six games compared to La Roja's four, while just three draws have been played out between the two nations, including the first leg of this Nations League quarter-final.

The very first meeting between the Netherlands and Spain was a friendly that took place back in January 1957 when La Roja secured a thumping 5-1 home victory - their biggest win over the Oranje to date.

Netherlands responded by winning 3-2 in a friendly on their own turf just over 16 years later, before Spain won the next two, including the first competitive meeting between the two nations by a 1-0 scoreline in Euro 1984 qualifying.

That victory for Spain represents the last time that they beat the Netherlands in 90 minutes in any competition. Indeed, their only other triumph against the Oranje was their memorable 1-0 success in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final in South Africa where Andres Iniesta scored the extra-time winner in the 116th minute.

From the early 1980s to the present day, the Netherlands have had plenty of success against Spain aside from that final defeat, winning five and drawing three of their last nine meetings.

The most recent non-competitive encounter between the Netherlands and Spain was a friendly that took place in November 2020 when Donny van de Beek cancelled out a Sergio Canales opener as both nations settled for a 1-1 draw in Amsterdam.

Previous meetings

Mar 20, 2025: Netherlands 2-2 Spain (Nations League Quarter-Final)
Nov 11, 2020: Netherlands 1-1 Spain (Friendly)
Mar 31, 2015: Netherlands 2-0 Spain (Friendly)
Jun 13, 2014: Spain 1-5 Netherlands (World Cup Group Stage)
Jul 11, 2010: Netherlands 0-1 Spain (World Cup Final)
Mar 27, 2002: Netherlands 1-0 Spain (Friendly)
Nov 15, 2000: Spain 1-2 Netherlands (Friendly)
Jan 21, 1987: Spain 1-1 Netherlands (Friendly)
Nov 16, 1983: Netherlands 2-1 Spain (European Championship Qualifier)
Feb 16, 1983: Spain 1-0 Netherlands (European Championship Qualifier)
Jan 23, 1980: Spain 1-0 Netherlands (Friendly)
May 02, 1973: Netherlands 3-2 Spain (Friendly)
Jan 30, 1957: Spain 5-1 Netherlands (Friendly)