Spain host Northern Ireland in an international friendly tomorrow night and they will look to wrap up their preparations for the European Championships with a win at home.
La Roja will be the favourites heading into the contest and they will look to pick up a comprehensive victory in Seville. They are coming into this game on the back of a comprehensive win over Andorra earlier in the week. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland are lacking in match fitness right now and they have not played since March.
Spain managed to score five goals against Andorra in their last outing and they will fancy their chances of picking up an easy win over Northern Ireland in their final international friendly ahead of Euro 2024. They will kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against Croatia on the 15th of June before they face Italy and Albania in Group B.
Building some form and momentum ahead of the tournament will be ideal and Luis de la Fuente will demand a strong performance from his players.
Northern Ireland will not compete in the European Championships this summer but Michael O’Neill’s men are on a three-match unbeaten run. They will look to pull off an upset away from home against La Roja.
Team news and tactics
Spain
Spain do not have any major injury issues heading into this contest. They are likely to start in a 4-3-3 formation with Unai Simon in goal.
Dani Carvajal and Alex Grimaldo will start as the full-backs. They will look to create goal scoring opportunities from the wide areas and protect the central defence as well. Robin Le Normand will start alongside Aymeric Laporte in central defence.
In the midfield, Manchester City star Rodri will be deployed in the anchor role and he will look to break up opposition attacks and control the tempo of the game. The likes of Fabian Ruiz and Pedri will add creativity and control to the side.
Alvaro Morata will lead the line for Spain here with Mikel Oyarzabal and Lamine Yamal on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Grimaldo; Pedri, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Oyarzabal
Northern Ireland
The visitors do not have any injury problems heading into this contest as well and they are likely to shape up in a 5-4-1 formation.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell will start as the goalkeeper here.
Trai Hume and Brodie Spencer will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact defensively and help out during counter attacking opportunities. In central defence, Jonny Evans will start alongside Eoin Toal and Daniel Ballard.
In the midfield, Conor Bradley and Isaac Price will start in the wide areas. They will look to provide defensive cover to the side and help out in the attack as well. Shea Charles And Corry Evans will start in the middle of the park.
Josh Magennis will lead the line for the away team.
Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Peacock-Farrell; Hume, Ballard, J Evans, Toal, Spencer; Bradley, C Evans, Charles, Price; Magennis
Key Stats
- Spain have won 11 of the last 18 matches against Northern Ireland.
- Northern Ireland have picked up two wins from the last five matches in all competitions.
- Spain are unbeaten in four of the last five matches in all competitions.
- The last time Northern Ireland managed to beat La Roja (3-2) was in September 2006.
Key Player
Mikel Oyarzabal
The Spanish winger is in red-hot form right now and he will look to punish the Northern Ireland defence with his creativity and goal scoring ability.
He managed to score a hat trick against Andorra in the last outing and he will look to extend his fine run of form here as well. Oyarzabal is our player to watch out for.
Prediction
Spain 3-0 Northern Ireland
Spain have the better team on paper and they will be full of confidence after the thrashing of Andorra. They should be able to grind out an easy win at home.
Northern Ireland have been difficult to beat but they are lacking in sharpness due to the lack of games since march. The home side are likely to emerge victorious. A 3-0 win for Spain is on the cards here.
