Spain will take on Brazil in an international friendly match on Tuesday, 26 March in what will be both nation's final match before end of the domestic season. Spain come into the match on the back of a defeat to Colombia in London while Brazil come into on the back of a late victory against England, also in London. With the European Championships and Copa America just a few months away, this is one of the final chances for the managers to take a look at certain players.
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Spain vs Brazil H2H record
The Spain vs Brazil rivalry is one that goes back to the 1930s with the first meeting between the two nations on a football pitch coming 90 years ago. The two nations have produced some of the finest footballers to ever exist but have only met a total of nine times.
- Spain Wins: 2
- Draws: 2
- Brazil Wins: 5
Spain won't be too pleased with their record against Brazil, however, there aren't many nations that can say they have a particularly good record against the Selecao. Spain managed to win their first-ever match against Brazil but have drawn or lost seven of the last eight H2Hs.
Spain vs Brazil last five H2Hs
Brazil 3-0 Spain – 30th June 2013
The most recent Spain vs Brazil H2H came in the 2013 Confederations Cup Final. Brazil were the tournament hosts as a warmup for the World Cup the following year while Spain were the reigning European and World champions. The result, therefore, was an impressive and emphatic one with Fred (Not the ex-Man Utd player) netting twice and Neymar scoring the others. It was a result that indicated Spain's dominance of international football was over.
Spain 0-0 Brazil – 13th November 1999
In 1999, Spain and Brazil met in an international friendly in Vigo. Both teams were stacked in terms of attacking talent with Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos lining up for Brazil and Fernando Morientes and Raul lining up for Spain. Despite the quality on the pitch, the match itself was a drab affair which can often happen in international friendlies. Here's hoping the match on Tuesday night doesn't follow suit.
Spain 3-0 Brazil – 12th September 1990
Spain's last victory against Brazil came in a friendly match in 1990. The match was played just a few months after the 1990 World Cup in Italy where both nations crashed out in the round of 16. Spain had clearly recovered from that disappointment better than Brazil as they thumped the Selecao 3-0 in Gijon. On the night, the goals came via Carlos, Fernando and Michel in what was Spain's first victory over brazil in 56 years.
Brazil 1-0 Spain – 1st June 1986
Brazil faced Spain in the group stages of the 1986 World Cup – their most recent meeting in a World Cup. The match was the opening game of Group D with most both nations looking for the best possible start in what was a difficult group on paper. It was Brazil who came out on top thanks to a strike from Socrates in the second half. Both teams would go on to qualify from Group D but neither of them made it past the quarter-final stage.
Brazil 1-0 Spain – 8th July 1981
Brazil secured another 1-0 victory over Spain in July 1981 in an international friendly in Salvador. Both nations were preparing for the 1982 World Cup, a tournament that Spain would host so the pressure was well and truly on. On the night, the only goal of the game came from Baltazar and it was a result that perhaps did some damage to the psychology of the Spanish side as they crashed out in the second group stage of their home World Cup a year later.
Potential MVP – Vinicius Jr
The match between Spain and Brazil on Tuesday night is being played at the Bernabeu, a stadium that Vinicius Jr will know better than anyone on the pitch. The exciting winger has had a difficult week, breaking down in a news conference amid further racist abuse in Spain and will be looking to try and put that behind him as much as possible.
The Real Madrid forward is Brazil's most important player with Neymar out injured and he has scored 15 goals and provided six assists this season at a club level despite suffering from a few injuries himself. If Spain can keep him quiet then they should have control of the match.
Key trend
Not only is Spain's record against Brazil poor in terms of results, but it is also dismal in terms of goalscoring. Looking at the Spain vs Brazil last five H2Hs, Spain have only scored in one of them which doesn't necessarily bode well for them on Tuesday night. Brazil to keep a clean sheet is priced at 5/2 (3.50).
For more tips, check out our in-depth Spain vs Brazil prediction.
