Spain 4-1 Croatia: Lamine Yamal sets the pace in Seville | OneFootball

La Roja seals a brilliant win with a brace from the Barça player and goals from Pubill and Nico Williams

Spain confirmed their excellent form after beating Croatia 4-1 in emphatic fashion at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium in another Nations League fixture. Luis de la Fuente’s side took control of the match thanks to Lamine Yamal’s explosive start and Marc Pubill’s set-piece response after Beljo’s equaliser, before turning it into a full-blown celebration in the second half with the Barça forward’s second goal and a stunning late strike from Nico Williams. With this win, the national team extends its unbeaten run, manages player workload successfully in a demanding schedule, and heads into its upcoming international fixtures with the best possible feeling.

First half: instant reactions

Luis de la Fuente’s side came out flying and were already ahead before the second minute thanks to a true wonder goal from Lamine Yamal, who finished off a team move of no fewer than 25 passes with a shot into the far corner. According to Opta, with that early goal Spain have now scored in the opening two minutes in back-to-back matches for the first time since at least 2004. After that early blow, the hosts created more chances through Álex Baena and Marc Cucurella against a Croatia side overwhelmed by the high press.

However, just when the Spanish side looked most comfortable in possession, the Balkan team showed why they are always a dangerous opponent. In the visitors’ first clear attack, Ivan Perisic delivered a pinpoint cross into the heart of the box that Beljo met by rising above the centre-back pairing and heading into the back of the net to make it 1-1 in the 28th minute. It was a temporary cold shower for a Spain side that had been dominating the game completely, but paid for a lack of defensive sharpness in that one moment.

Action from the second goal scored by Marc Pubill. Source: Spain National Team

Despite the setback of conceding, La Roja’s response was immediate and came from a set piece. In the 31st minute, Lamine played a short corner to Fermín López, who returned it to the winger so he could swing in a precise right-footed cross that Marc Pubill powered into the net with a fine header. In the closing stages of the first half, the match became a little more heated and tense, but Spain came close to a third with a goal ruled out for offside against Mikel Oyarzabal after a rebound from Livakovic, and a powerful strike from Fermín that crashed against the post just before the break.

Second half: the final blow

The second half began with a much more determined Croatia, ready to challenge Spain for possession. During the first ten minutes after the restart, Slaven Bilic’s side stepped up and threatened Unai Simón’s area by taking advantage of Mateo Kovacic’s freedom between the lines. However, Luis de la Fuente’s team managed to absorb the visitors’ push and reasserted control with the introductions of Pedri and Mikel Merino, regaining command of midfield and fluency in possession.

The turning point came in the 63rd minute, signed by the man of the match. Lamine Yamal received a precise pass from Pedri on the right, took on his marker in the box, and found a gap at the near post to beat Livakovic, scoring his second of the night and making it 3-1. With the win all but secured, De la Fuente brought on Nico Williams and debutant Víctor Muñoz, giving Lamine a rest as he left the pitch to a rousing ovation from the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The Sevilla ground also rose to its feet late on to unanimously applaud Luka Modric, who came on in the 80th minute in place of Petar Sucic.

Lamine Yamal during the celebration of his second goal. Source: Spain National Team

With the match now completely stretched and after the return of Rodri Hernández wearing the captain’s armband, Spain fully sealed the rout with a true work of art. In the 90th minute, Nico Williams received the ball out wide, produced an extraordinary dribble past Sutalo to burst down the outside, and then curled an unstoppable left-footed shot into the top far corner. With the final 4-1 on the board and just two minutes of stoppage time, the referee brought to an end a match that confirms the national team’s excellent form ahead of its upcoming international fixtures.

Match sheet

Spain: Unai Simón; Marc Pubill, Pau Cubarsí, Dean Huijsen, M. Cucurella; M. Zubimendi (Rodri, min. 72), Fabián (Pedri, min. 57), Fermín López (Mikel Merino, min. 57); Lamine Yamal (Víctor Muñoz, min. 68), M. Oyarzabal, Álex Baena (Nico Williams, min. 68)

Croatia: D. Livakovic; Josko Gvardiol, Josip Sutalo, M. Pongracic (L. Vuskovic, min. 46), I. Smolcic; Josip Misic, Mateo Kovacic (Mario Pasalic, min. 60), Petar Sucic (Luka Modric, min. 81); Ivan Perisic (F. Ivanovic, min. 72), Marco Pasalic, Dion Beljo (A. Budimir, min. 60)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.