Spain continued its dominant run in the UEFA Nations League with a 4–1 victory over Croatia at the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium in Seville, extending its unbeaten streak to 40 matches. Lamine Yamal starred with two goals and an assist, while Pubill and Nico Williams also found the back of the net in front of 43,700 spectators.
Lamine Yamal Sets the Tone Early in Seville
Just 70 seconds into the match, Lamine struck to give Spain the lead. Receiving a pass from Fermín following a 25-pass sequence from the opening kickoff, Lamine drove and fired a precise left-footed shot into the far corner past goalkeeper Livakovic.
The goal mirrored a similar early strike against England in London, where Lamine needed 104 seconds to open the scoring. Spain’s high-tempo possession and aggressive pressing immediately overwhelmed the visitors, though manager Luis de la Fuente made five changes to his starting lineup compared to the previous fixture.
Croatia Equalizes Before Spain Pulls Away
Despite controlling the tempo, Spain conceded an equalizer in the 28th minute. Perisic carved out space and delivered a precise cross that allowed Beljo to rise between Cubarsí and Huijsen to head home past Unai Simón.
The response from La Roja was swift. Immediately following the restart, Lamine took a short corner with Fermín, received the return pass, and floated an accurate right-footed cross into the penalty area. Pubill met the delivery with a powerful header to make it 2–1 in the 31st minute, marking his first goal.
Securing the Win After the Interval
Croatia emerged from halftime with renewed intensity, disrupting Spain’s rhythm for a sustained period. However, Lamine extinguished any hopes of a comeback in the 63rd minute. Taking advantage of a creative pass from Pedri, Lamine scored his second of the night from a tight angle, prompting a standing ovation from the Seville crowd when he was substituted shortly after.
Nico Williams capped the scoring in the 89th minute with a goal, cementing the 4–1 scoreline under Dutch referee Serdar Gözübüyük. The result leaves Spain firmly atop its group standings as preparations continue for upcoming fixtures in the competition.
