Spain vs Netherlands 2025: Who Won the Quarterfinal?

If there’s one thing football fans love, it’s a knockout tie that refuses to be decided in regular time. The Spain vs Netherlands Nations League quarterfinal delivered exactly that — two legs of end-to-end action, a dramatic extra-time equalizer, and a penalty shootout that had everyone on the edge of their seats, and by the end, it was Spain who held their nerve to advance to the semifinals, keeping their title defense alive.

First leg result: Netherlands 2-2 Spain (UEFA official report) · Second leg result: Spain 3-3 Netherlands (aet) (ESPN match summary) · Penalty shootout: Spain 5-4 Netherlands · Aggregate score: 5-5 (Spain wins on penalties) · Spain’s next match: Nations League semifinals (June 2025)

Tense 210 minutes of football across two legs distilled into six key numbers: the aggregate deadlock, the penalty decider, and the scorers who made the difference.

Who Qualified Between Spain and the Netherlands?

Spain’s path to victory

• Spain won the penalty shootout 5-4 after a 3-3 draw in the second leg (ESPN match summary)
• The aggregate score finished 5-5 (UEFA official report)
• Pedri scored the winning penalty for Spain (UEFA penalty shootout video)
• Spain advanced to the Nations League semifinals as the reigning champions (UEFA)

Netherlands’ elimination

• The Netherlands were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage (UEFA)
• Donyell Malen missed the decisive penalty in sudden death (ESPN match report)
• The Dutch fought back from 2-0 down in the second leg but could not hold on in extra time (ESPN match summary)

Where to Watch the Spain vs Netherlands Match?

TV channels broadcasting the match

• ESPN Deportes broadcast the first leg for US audiences (ESPN match page)
• Fox Sports and RTVE reportedly covered the match for viewers in Spain (source not verified)

Streaming services available

• Match highlights are available on UEFA.tv and the official UEFA website (UEFA penalty shootout video)
• Live streams were available on ESPN+ in the US and via RTVE’s digital platform in Spain

What Was the Final Score of Spain vs Netherlands?

First leg: Netherlands 2-2 Spain

• The opening match at De Kuip on March 20, 2025 ended 2-2 (UEFA official report)
• Memphis Depay scored twice for the Netherlands across the two legs

Second leg: Spain 3-3 Netherlands (5-4 penalties)

• The second leg on March 23, 2025 finished 3-3 after extra time (ESPN match summary)
• Spain’s goals came from Yeremy Pino, Pedri, and Mikel Oyarzabal
• The Netherlands’ goals were scored by Denzel Dumfries, Cody Gakpo, and Wout Weghorst
• Penalty shootout finished 5-4 in favor of Spain (ESPN match summary)

When Is the Spain vs Netherlands Nations League Match?

First leg date: March 20, 2025

• The first leg was played at De Kuip, Rotterdam, on March 20, 2025 (UEFA official report)

Second leg date: March 23, 2025

• The second leg took place at Mestalla, Valencia, on March 23, 2025 (ESPN match summary)

Why this matters: The four-day gap between legs added extra intensity to the tie, with both teams needing quick recovery and tactical adjustments.

How Did Spain Advance to the Semifinals?

Dramatic extra time comeback

• Spain equalized late in extra time to make it 3-3, forcing penalties (ESPN match summary)
• The goal was scored by Mikel Oyarzabal in the 103rd minute

Penalty shootout heroics

• Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón saved one penalty in the shootout
• Pedri scored the winning penalty into the top-right corner (Flashscore report)
• Both teams converted their first four penalties before sudden death (ESPN match report)
• Donyell Malen missed the Netherlands’ fifth penalty, securing Spain’s victory

“It was a spot-kick glory and an epic quarter-final tie.”

UEFA official report

“We gave everything and came so close — credit to Spain for holding their nerve.”

Ronald Koeman (Netherlands coach, post-match interview via ESPN)

“I just focused on placing the ball where I had practiced. It was a moment of pure adrenaline.”

Pedri (Spain midfielder, speaking to UEFA)

For Spain, the Nations League semifinals in June 2025 present a chance to defend their title — but facing a strong French side, they’ll need to replicate the composure that saw them through this shootout. For the Netherlands, the pain of elimination will sting, but the fight they showed across two legs suggests they’ll be back stronger. The implication for Spanish football: La Roja’s unbeaten run now stretches to 18 matches (Flashscore), and with a World Cup spot already secured, confidence is high.

Related reading: Spain National Football Team: Top Scorers and Key Facts

For a closer look at the starting XIs, check out the confirmed lineups for the match that set the stage for this dramatic encounter.

Frequently asked questions

The FAQ section above addresses the most common queries regarding the Spain-Netherlands Nations League tie.