Yamal shines as Spain defeats Czech Republic 3-1

Spain's forward #19 Lamine Yamal displayed his exceptional scoring ability as Spain achieved a 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic in the UEFA Nations League Group A3 match at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium in Oviedo on October 3, 2026. The world champions secured a three-point lead ahead of England, after Thomas Tuchel's side had overwhelmed Croatia 7-0 earlier in the day in Rijeka.

Spain surged to a two-goal lead with contributions from Yamal and Rodri Hernandez, but Jiri Slama's goal with 20 minutes remaining gave the Czech Republic a glimmer of hope. Mikel Merino ultimately sealed Spain's win late in the match after Ladislav Krejci was shown a red card, marking Spain's 41st consecutive unbeaten game, including their World Cup final victory over Argentina in July.

Coach Luis de la Fuente implemented several changes from Tuesday's victory against Croatia, providing debuts to full-back Ivan Fresneda and striker Roberto Fernandez. However, it was Yamal who made a significant impact early on—after scoring in the second minute of Spain's first two games against England and Croatia, he broke the deadlock in just the sixth minute against the Czechs. The 19-year-old winger, a leading candidate for the Ballon d'Or, executed an exquisite finish from the right side of the box, curling the ball into the top corner following a deft touch to create shooting space. Coach De La Fuente was visibly stunned by the quality of Yamal's strike. This goal marked Yamal's 11th in his last eight matches for both club and country.

Rodri then extended Spain's advantage in the 35th minute, finding himself in the box to drill the ball into the top corner after a favorable bounce. In the second half, De la Fuente substituted Yamal at halftime to rest him ahead of their upcoming match against Croatia on Tuesday. With Yamal off the field, the pace slowed, allowing the Czech Republic to pull one goal back through Slama, who finished expertly from a pass by Adam Hlozek.

Spain's goalkeeper David Raya narrowly managed to avoid conceding again shortly after, as a misplaced pass while outside his area presented a chance that the Czechs could not capitalize on. The visitors faced a setback when Krejci was sent off for a second yellow card, limiting their efforts to draw level. Liverpool's Victor Munoz missed a chance before Merino added the final touch for Spain in the closing stages with a close-range finish.