Spain kept their perfect start to the Nations League campaign by defeating the Czech Republic 4‑1 in Oviedo on Saturday. Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the sixth minute, curling a superb strike from the edge of the penalty area into the far post despite being surrounded by three defenders.
In the 35th minute, former Manchester City midfielder Rodri, now at Barcelona, doubled Spain’s advantage. He ran at the away defence, linked up with Dani Olmo and fired the ball into the top corner from near the penalty spot.
The Czechs pulled one back in the 69th minute when Jiri Slama scored with a low shot past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. However, the visitors ended the game with ten men after Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci was sent off for two bookable offences.
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino sealed the victory in the 89th minute, converting a loose ball for the final goal. Spain’s win extended their winning run to ten matches, since a 0‑0 draw with Cape Verde in the group phase of the World Cup.
Luis de la Fuente’s side now have nine points from their three Nations League matches and remain top of Group A3, three points ahead of England. Spain will play in Croatia on Tuesday, where a victory would take them into the quarter‑finals with two group games to spare.
They have an away match in Prague against the Czech Republic on 12 November, before ending the group phase versus England on 15 November at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium. Spain, who beat Argentina 1‑0 to win the 2026 World Cup, won the Nations League in 2023 and lost in the final in 2021 and 2025. The Nations League quarter‑finals take place in March, with the semi‑finals and final in June.
