Spain vs Netherlands LIVE: Holders bid to reach last four in Nations League quarter-finals – UK Times

It looked like Spain had doubled the lead but it’s offside. It’ll be checked!

It all comes from some lovely play in the middle from Yamal, who beats two men near halfway and runs into space. He sees Oyarzabal making the run and threads it through, with the scorer squeezing a great finish into the far corner, but he’d strayed off.

Oyarzabal steps up an d rifles his penalty low and hard into the corner! 1-0 to La Roja.

PENALTY! The referee points to the spot after van Hecke brings down Oyarzabal in the box. It’s clumsy, but soft.

The first real injection of pace sees Williams beat his man before he’s tackled, but Spain keep the pressure on…

It’s a little scrappy early on from both sides, with neither able to keep the ball for very long.

Both sides just looking to settle at the moment.

Early pressure in the press from Spain and de Jong puts a little too much on a backpass to Verbruggen, but the ‘keeper manages to clear.

We’re underway at the Mestalla! The Netherlands get us started.

Both sides are in the tunnel at the Mestalla, and we’re just around five minutes from kick-off here.

Should be a fascinating second leg in Valencia.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente says that he “couldn’t have asked for more from these players” during the first leg.

“We’re up against a great opponent. We won more duels, we finished well and we weren’t at the mercy of our opponent.

“They’re very powerful, and it was a match worthy of a final,” he added.

The most famous match between these two came in 2010, at the World Cup Final in Johannesburg.

After a match that had seen plenty of missed chances, a red card for John Heitinga and a blatant red card not given to Nigel de Jong, Andres Iniesta popped up with a lovely half-volley to give La Roja their maiden World Cup win.

Having won Euro 2008, this result sealed Spain’s dominance at international level, with players including Xavi, David Villa and Cesc Fabregas featuring again as La Roja won Euro 2012 in style.

For the Netherlands, it was another heartbreak on the biggest stage.