Germany host Netherlands at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Monday, 16 November (20:45), knowing a win is almost certain to be required to secure a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are third in League A Group A2 on eight points, level with Greece and three behind leaders Netherlands. UEFA’s head-to-head rules could prove decisive if teams finish level.
Germany are seeking only the second quarter-final appearance in their Nations League history, but their route to the next round has been complicated by two results against Greece. They lost 1-0 on 27 September before drawing 0-0 in the fourth round of matches.
However, Greece’s 7-0 defeat by Netherlands on Friday means Germany will qualify ahead of them with victory in Berlin, regardless of Greece’s result against Serbia.
Germany drew 1-1 with Netherlands in the reverse fixture, with Cody Gakpo scoring a late equaliser in stoppage time. They have remained unbeaten in the group since losing to Greece, and claimed a 3-1 victory in Serbia on Friday after taking a 2-0 lead inside 14 minutes through an own goal by Sr?an Babic and a strike from Florian Wirtz.
Netherlands in commanding position
Netherlands, managed by Xavi, are unbeaten in this Nations League campaign and sit top of the group with 11 points. They followed a 2-2 draw in early October with their emphatic victory over Greece, leaving them needing an extraordinary 14-goal swing in goal difference in Greece’s favour to fall out of the top two.
Despite the absence of defensive leader Virgil van Dijk during this international window, Netherlands kept their first clean sheet of the campaign on Friday. Tijjani Reijnders was the main attacking influence, scoring a first-half hat-trick.
Netherlands have won only one of their past six away matches against Germany, but they have avoided defeat in their last seven matches on the road. Their most recent away loss came on penalties in Spain in the Nations League quarter-finals in March 2025, after the tie finished 5-5 on aggregate.
Germany’s recent form in the Nations League and all competitions is draw, defeat, win, draw, win. Netherlands’ record in both categories is draw, win, draw, win, win.
Germany have no new injury concerns, although Bayern Munich forwards Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry remain unavailable with muscle problems. Brajan Gruda, Florian Wirtz and Derry Scherhant are expected to support Kai Havertz, with the Arsenal forward leading the attack.
Frenkie de Jong left the Netherlands squad after suffering back pain during the 7-0 win. Teun Koopmeiners is expected to replace him alongside Joey Veerman, with Reijnders operating as a number 10.
Donyell Malen, who has scored 12 goals in all competitions for AS Roma this season, is likely to start alongside Gakpo and Crysencio Summerville. Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke could form the central defensive pairing with Van Dijk absent.
A Germany victory would send them directly into the quarter-finals. Netherlands’ near-certain qualification may reduce the pressure on the visitors, while the hosts face a must-win contest in front of their home crowd. The expected score is Germany 2-1 Netherlands.