Spain beat Czech Republic 3-1 to keep Nations League record perfect
Synopsis
Spain rotated nine players from the side that beat Croatia 4-1 — handed two players their international debuts — and still swept past the Czech Republic 3-1. Yamal's fifth-minute curler, Rodrigo's composed finish and Merino's late clincher kept the world champions at 100% in the Nations League, a statement of squad depth as much as quality.
Key Takeaways
Spain beat Czech Republic 3-1 in Oviedo on 4 October 2026 , maintaining a 100% UEFA Nations League record.
Luis de la Fuente made nine changes from the side that beat Croatia 4-1 days earlier.
Ivan Fresneda and Roberto Fernandez both made their international debuts.
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the 5th minute ; Rodrigo Hernandez added the second in the 35th minute .
Jiri Slama briefly pulled it back to 2-1 before Ladislav Krejci's red card and Mikel Merino's late goal sealed the win.
Spain extended their flawless UEFA Nations League campaign with a 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic in Oviedo on 4 October 2026, underscoring the world champions' depth even when fielding a heavily rotated side.
Yamal and Rodrigo Fire Spain Ahead
Coach Luis de la Fuente made nine changes from the team that had thrashed Croatia 4-1 earlier in the week, handing debuts to Ivan Fresneda and Roberto Fernandez. Despite the wholesale reshuffle, Spain wasted little time imposing themselves. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a trademark curling finish into the corner, setting the tone for a dominant first half. Rodrigo Hernandez — who had already gone close with a flowing team move — added the second in the 35th minute, slotting home after Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky had impressively denied Pedri just three minutes before.
Czech Republic Briefly Fight Back
Spain's control loosened at the start of the second half after Yamal and Alex Baena were withdrawn for Victor Munoz and Yeremy Pino. The substitutes' tendency to stay wide rather than drift inside ceded some midfield grip, and the Czechs capitalised when Jiri Slama drilled a low shot past David Raya to make it 2-1. Spain's goalkeeper then had a nervy moment — dropping a straightforward ball, allowing Ryan Naderi to fire into the net — but the effort was ruled out for a prior foul on Robin Le Normand.
Red Card and Late Seal
The contest was effectively settled in the final stages. Ladislav Krejci was shown a red card in the 85th minute, reducing the Czechs to ten men. Substitute Mikel Merino then applied the finishing touch in the closing seconds, latching onto a loose ball from a quick break to restore Spain's two-goal cushion and seal the 3-1 win.
What It Means for Spain
The result keeps Spain with a 100 percent Nations League record following back-to-back victories. Notably, Fran Garcia, Le Normand, and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya also returned to the squad for the match. The performance demonstrated the considerable options available to De la Fuente, who was able to rotate freely while still outclassing a competitive Czech side. Spain will look to maintain momentum in their next Nations League outing as their defence of the world title continues to gather shape.
Point of View
Pointing to a dependence on those two players' ability to narrow the pitch and draw defenders inward. Rodrigo's efficiency masked some midfield wobble in the second half, and Raya's howler — excused only by a fortuitous offside — is the kind of lapse that costs teams at the later stages. De la Fuente will be satisfied with the result; he should be less satisfied with the shape after the hour mark.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between Spain and Czech Republic in the Nations League?
Spain beat Czech Republic 3-1 in Oviedo on 4 October 2026 in their UEFA Nations League fixture. The result kept Spain's record at 100% in the competition.
Who scored for Spain against Czech Republic?
Lamine Yamal scored in the 5th minute , Rodrigo Hernandez added a second in the 35th minute , and substitute Mikel Merino sealed the win in the closing seconds. Jiri Slama scored the Czech Republic's consolation.
How many changes did Luis de la Fuente make against Czech Republic?
Coach Luis de la Fuente made nine changes from the team that beat Croatia 4-1 earlier in the week. Among those brought in were debutants Ivan Fresneda and Roberto Fernandez .
Why was the Czech Republic goal ruled out?
Ryan Naderi fired into the net after goalkeeper David Raya dropped the ball, but the effort was disallowed because of a prior foul on Robin Le Normand . The incident occurred with just over ten minutes remaining.
What is Spain's Nations League record after this match?
Spain now have a 100% record in the UEFA Nations League following back-to-back wins — a 4-1 home victory over Croatia and this 3-1 win in Oviedo against the Czech Republic.
