Spain delivered yet another dominant Nations League showing by defeating Croatia 4-1 at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium, with Lamine Yamal netting a brace while Marc Pubill and Nico Williams also got on the scoresheet. Luis de la Fuente’s team dictated large portions of the match despite a short-lived Croatian reply and wrapped up the evening in impressive style.
The home side began brightly and kept their calm after Croatia drew level in the first half. Spain restored their advantage almost instantly, withstood a more threatening period from the visitors after the break, and then extended their lead through Yamal before Nico Williams struck a stunning fourth late on.
Spain begins strongly against Croatia
Spain required fewer than two minutes to break the deadlock, with Yamal completing a sequence involving 25 passes by firing a shot into the far corner. Opta pointed out that the goal meant Spain had scored inside the opening two minutes of back-to-back matches for the first time since at least 2004.
The early strike established the pattern as Spain pressed with intensity and carved out additional chances through Álex Baena and Marc Cucurella. Croatia found it difficult to handle the hosts’ energy, though their first meaningful attack yielded an equaliser in the 28th minute.
Ivan Perisic sent an accurate cross into the penalty area, enabling Beljo to outjump the Spanish centre-backs and head the ball beyond Unai Simón. Croatia’s goal momentarily disrupted Spain’s dominance, but De la Fuente’s men responded quickly.
Lamine Yamal and Marc Pubill put Spain back in front
Only three minutes after Croatia’s equaliser, Spain regained the lead from a set piece. Yamal played a short corner to Fermín López before getting the ball back and whipping a precise right-footed cross into the box.
Marc Pubill attacked the delivery and thumped his header into the net to make it 2-1. Spain continued to look threatening before the break, with Mikel Oyarzabal having a goal disallowed for offside following a rebound from Livakovic.
Fermín also went close to adding to the lead when his powerful strike hit the post shortly before half-time. The final stages of the first period grew more tense, but Spain preserved their advantage heading into the interval.
Croatia presses before Spain reasserts control
Croatia came out for the second half with more ambition and contested possession with Spain. During the first ten minutes after the restart, Mateo Kovacic discovered more room between the lines as the visitors applied pressure on Simón’s goal.
Spain weathered that spell before reestablishing their authority in midfield. Pedri and Mikel Merino were brought on and assisted De la Fuente’s side in recovering control of the ball and the tempo of the game.
The pivotal moment came in the 63rd minute. Pedri picked out Yamal on the right, and the Barcelona forward took on his marker inside the area before finding space at the near post to beat Livakovic for his second goal of the evening.
Nico Williams seals an emphatic 4-1 victory
With Spain now firmly in command, De la Fuente substituted Yamal for Nico Williams and also gave Víctor Muñoz his debut. Yamal left the pitch to a standing ovation from the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán crowd, while Luka Modric was likewise warmly applauded when he came on in the 80th minute.
Rodri Hernández later returned to the field wearing the captain’s armband as the match became more open. Spain then added a fourth in spectacular fashion during the final minute of normal time.
Nico Williams gathered the ball out wide, dribbled past Sutalo, and surged forward before curling an unstoppable left-footed effort into the far top corner. The goal completed a 4-1 triumph that extended Spain’s unbeaten run and gave De la Fuente’s side a strong finish to the fixture.