Spain stayed perfect in UEFA Nations League League A, Group 3 with a 3-1 win over Czechia in Oviedo. Lamine Yamal and Rodri put Luis de la Fuente's side two up by half-time, Jiří Sláma pulled one back, and Mikel Merino sealed it after Ladislav Krejčí was sent off.
The world champions have nine points from three matches. England, who earlier thrashed Croatia 0-7 in Rijeka, sit second on six.
Match facts
- Result: Spain 3-1 Czechia (half-time 2-0)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League A, Group 3, Matchday 3
- Venue: Estadio Municipal Carlos Tartiere, Oviedo
- Scorers: Spain - Yamal 6', Rodri 35', Merino 89'; Czechia - Sláma 69'
- Red cards: Krejčí (Czechia) 85', second yellow
- Next: Spain v Croatia, Tuesday 6 October; England v Czechia, Tuesday 6 October
How the match unfolded
Spain were quickly on top at the Carlos Tartiere. In the sixth minute Dani Olmo's shots were blocked in the box, the ball broke to Yamal on the edge of the area, and he curled into the far corner past Antonín Kinský for his third successive Nations League goal.
Czechia, still without a point after losses to Croatia and England, struggled to clear their lines. Kinský denied Álex Baena and Pedri before Spain made it 2-0 in the 35th minute. Rodri drove forward and found Pedri in the box; the return broke kindly, and Rodri swept a finish into the top corner.
De la Fuente took Yamal and Baena off at the break, sending on Víctor Muñoz and Yéremy Pino. Spain still controlled the game, with Kinský saving from Roberto Fernández, until Czechia found a way back. In the 69th minute Adam Hložek's pass was drilled low by Sláma to make it 2-1.
Santi Denia's side thought they had equalised when substitute Ryan Naderi poked home, but the goal was disallowed for a foul in the build-up. With five minutes left Krejčí collected a second yellow for a foul on Fernández and was sent off. Spain used the extra man: Merino finished from close range in the 89th minute after a break to make it 3-1.
What it means
Spain have won all three group games, scoring 10 and conceding four. They beat England 3-2 at Wembley and Croatia 4-1, and now sit three points clear of England with a head-to-head advantage already banked.
Czechia remain bottom with no points and two goals scored. They lost 2-1 to Croatia on Matchday 1 and 2-0 to England before this defeat, and face England at Wembley on Tuesday without their captain after Krejčí's red card.
What happens next
Spain host Croatia on Tuesday 6 October (kick-off 19:45 UK). England host Czechia at Wembley the same evening. The top two in the group reach the Nations League quarter-finals.