Spain’s journey to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals took another decisive step forward on Tuesday with a dominant 3-0 victory over Serbia at home. Despite the absence of several key players, the Spanish team displayed a masterful performance, showcasing their strength and depth. Goals from Aymeric Laporte, Alvaro Morata, and Alex Baena sealed the win and sent a clear message to the competition – Spain is a force to be reckoned with.
The first goal arrived early, in the fifth minute, as Laporte expertly headed in a cross from Pedro Porro. This set the tone for a one-sided encounter, with Spain controlling possession and relentlessly pressing the Serbian defense. Morata, who missed a penalty in the 54th minute, doubled the lead in the 65th minute, confidently slotting home a pass from Fabian Ruiz.
The game was effectively settled in the 78th minute when Serbia’s Strahinja Pavlovic was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul on Mikel Oyarzabal. This gave Spain a numerical advantage and allowed them to exploit the open spaces created by the Serbian defense. Alex Baena, who had come on as a substitute, put the finishing touches on the victory with a stunning free-kick that curled into the top corner in the 82nd minute.
The victory cemented Spain’s position at the top of League A Group One. With 10 points, they are three points ahead of Denmark and six points clear of Serbia, effectively securing a top-two finish and a place in the quarterfinals. This impressive performance comes on the heels of Spain’s 2-1 win over England in the Euro 2024 final in July, further highlighting their dominance in international football.
Despite the absence of several key players due to injuries, including Dani Carvajal, Rodri, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, and Robin Le Normand, Spain’s squad displayed immense talent and adaptability. Luis de la Fuente’s team seamlessly incorporated young players into the starting lineup, showcasing a bright future for Spanish football.
“We are in another final stage of a major tournament and that is something to be proud of,” captain Morata told Spanish public television TVE. “It seems easy because we are always there in the final stages but sure it isn’t so we have to understand how special it is and give it the proper value it has. We have several injured players, we missed them but we have to look at the positives that are young players stepping up. What we have created is special and we have to keep going forward. Spain has an incredible future.”
With this commanding victory, Spain has taken a significant step towards defending their Nations League title. They will now look forward to the knockout stages with confidence, aiming to continue their impressive run and ultimately lift the trophy.