Spain maintained its flawless start to the UEFA Nations League on Sunday, defeating the Czech Republic 3–1 at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo. Goals from Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Mikel Merino secured the victory, lifting Luis de la Fuente’s side to nine points from three matches and keeping them atop Group A3.
Early Breakthrough Opens the Scoring in Oviedo
The hosts wasted little time asserting control on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Just six minutes into the match, Lamine Yamal broke the deadlock. Working in tandem with Dani Olmo, the 19-year-old Barcelona winger curled a precise, bending shot past Czech goalkeeper Antonín Kinský to put Spain ahead 1–0.
Spain dominated possession through the opening half, restricting the visitors while probing for a second breakthrough. That arrived in the 35th minute. Following another sustained attacking sequence orchestrated by Pedri and Dani Olmo, Rodri pounced on a loose ball in the center of the penalty area to drive home Spain’s second goal. The score remained 2–0 in favor of the hosts heading into halftime.
Czech Republic Responds Before Red Card Stifles Momentum
The Czech side emerged from the break with renewed intent and halved the deficit in the 69th minute. Jiri Slama connected with a pass from Adam Hlozek before unleashing a powerful strike past Spain goalkeeper David Raya, narrowing the score to 2–1.
As the visitors chased an equalizer, discipline began to fracture. Ladislav Krejci received his second yellow card of the match in the 85th minute after pulling the jersey of Spain forward Roberto Fernández, forcing the Czech Republic to play out the remainder of the fixture a man down.
Spain quickly capitalized on the numerical advantage. In the 89th minute, substitute Mikel Merino struck with a left-footed effort to restore a two-goal cushion, sealing the 3–1 final scoreline.
Standings and Squad Rotations Shape the Group Picture
With three wins from three outings, Spain leads Group A3 with nine points. England sits second with six points, followed by Croatia with three, while the Czech Republic remains at the bottom without a point. La Roja’s campaign continues following a summer in which the squad claimed the FIFA World Cup title.
Ahead of kickoff, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente opted to leave Pau Cubarsi and Carlos Espi out of the 23-matchday squad, with both players watching from the tribunes. Espi joined the senior camp late in the week following a five-goal performance with Spain’s Under-21 side against San Marino, while Cubarsi was rested after playing 180 minutes during the international break and maintaining a heavy workload through the World Cup.
Who Scored and Played in Spain Versus Czech Republic?
Who scored the goals for Spain against the Czech Republic?
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the 6th minute, Rodri added a second in the 35th minute, and Mikel Merino secured the 3–1 result with a goal in the 89th minute.
Which player was sent off during the match?
Czech Republic defender Ladislav Krejci received a second yellow card in the 85th minute for pulling Roberto Fernández’s jersey, leaving his team with 10 men.
Where was the match played?
The fixture took place at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo, Spain, on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
What is Spain’s position in Group A3 after this match?
Spain leads Group A3 with a maximum of nine points from three games, followed by England with six points, Croatia with three, and the Czech Republic with zero.
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