UEFA Nations League holders Spain will try to knock Denmark from the top of League A Group 4 when they compete at Estadio Nueva Condomina on Saturday night.

While the Danes have taken a maximum of six points from their first two games, La Roja are two points further back in second place.

Match example

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After being crowned European champions in the summer thanks to a 2-1 win over England in the Euro 2024 final, Spain were held to a frustrating goalless deadlock by Serbia in their opening Nations League match last month.

However, La Roja returned to victory on matchday two put Switzerland to the sword 4-1 despite dropping to 10 in the first 20 minutes. Fabian Ruiz scored twice on either side Robin Le Normand‘s dismissal, while Joselu And Ferran Torres were also on the scoresheet.

Luis de la Fuente‘s side have extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to twelve games, including ten wins and two draws, and have not lost since a 1-0 friendly defeat to Colombia in March.

Spain is particularly impressive in front of goal, having scored at least two or more goals in nine games during this unbeaten run, beating Germany, France and England along the way.

Spain, ranked third in the world by FIFA, will fancy their chances of success on Saturday having won each of their last four meetings with Denmark by an aggregate score of 10-2.

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Denmark failed to win a single match at Euro 2024, drawing all three matches in the group stage and progressing to the last 16, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat to hosts Germany.

The Danes’ disappointing campaign resulted in the manager’s departure Kasper Hjulmandand caretaker manager Lars Knudsen has since made a good start to his reign with the senior national team, winning his first two Nations League games against Switzerland and Serbia.

Denmark’s 2-0 win against a nine-man team from Switzerland was followed three days later by success against Serbia by the same scoreline, with the Danes taking some revenge on the Serbs after being drawn to a frustrating 0-0 at the 2024 European Championship held.

Knudsen’s side, ranked 20th in the world by FIFA, sit at the top of League A Group 4, and after finishing second in their previous two Nations League campaigns, will be keen to consolidate their place in the want to consolidate top.

Success on Saturday could prove a challenge for Denmark, however, as they have won just two of their previous sixteen meetings with Spain in all competitions – their most recent win coming in March 1993 when they defeated La Roja 1-0 in a World Cup -qualifying match. .

Format of the Nations League of Spain:

Form Spain (all competitions):

Format of the Denmark Nations League:

Form Denmark (all competitions):

Team news

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Spain will be without a plethora of senior stars, including an important duo Rodri And Dani Carvajalwho have been ruled out for several months due to ACL injuries.

Le Normand – who would have been suspended for this match anyway – suffered a ‘traumatic brain injury’ earlier this month while representing Atletico Madrid and is also sidelined along with Ferran Torres. Dani Olmo, Gavi, Nico Williams And Bryan Gil.

Pedro Porro And Oscar Mingueza will compete for a start at right back, whilst being 17 years old Pau Cubarsi could get just his second senior international start in central defence Aymeric Laporte.

In Rodri’s absence, sought after Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi will probably act as an anchor in the Spanish midfield in between Pedri and Fabian Ruiz, while Lamine Yamal And Alex Baena could support Alvaro Morata on attack.

As for Denmark, they will have to do without it Joachim Andersen, Mikkel Damsgaard, Christian Norgaard And Morten Frendrup due to injury, while the Toulouse defender was uncapped Rasmus Nicolaisen has also been forced to withdraw.

However, Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has returned to the first team after missing last month’s international break through injury, and is in contention to start up front, either alongside or instead Yussuf Poulsenwho scored against Serbia last time.

Christian Eriksen is expected to earn his 137th international cap in midfield Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg And Morten Hjulmandwhile Jannik Vestergaard could be joined into a back three with Rasmus Kristensen And Victor Nelson.

Possible starting line-up for Spain:
Raya; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri, Zubimendi, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Baena

Possible starting line-up for Denmark:
Schmeichel; Kristensen, Vestergaard, Nelsson; Bah, Hojbjerg, Hjulmand, Kristiansen; Eriksen; Poulsen, Hojlund

We say: Spain 3-1 Denmark

Denmark have made a positive start under agent Knudsen, but their mettle will certainly be tested against a Spanish side that still has plenty of strength in depth despite the absence of several key players due to injury.

Indeed, La Roja will be considered favorites to emerge victorious in Saturday’s match and we expect the hosts to outdo their opponents on their way to claiming the three points they need to take the Danes to the top of the group.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, click here.

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