Spain Maintain Nations League Perfect Record with Victory Over Ten-Man Czechia
Spain secured a 2-0 victory in Prague despite the absence of Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Mikel Oyarzabal. Álex Baena of Atlético Madrid converted a penalty to open the scoring, while Marc Pubill added a late second goal. This result maintains the world champions’ unbeaten streak in Nations League Group A3 and means they require only a draw against England on Sunday to secure top spot.
Spain defeated ten-man Czechia 2-0 at the Letná Stadium in Prague on Thursday. The victory was achieved without three of their key players: Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Mikel Oyarzabal were all unavailable. Atlético Madrid’s Álex Baena scored from the penalty spot, and Marc Pubill added a late second goal. The world champions remain perfect in Group A3 ahead of Sunday’s decisive match against England.
Conditions were harsh, with the match played at 4°C, accompanied by light drizzle and humidity exceeding 90%, according to the Spanish federation. Czechia are managed by the Spanish coach Santi Denia.
Baena’s penalty broke a tight first half
Chances were limited before the break. Dean Huijsen’s header was Spain’s sole open-play effort on target in the first half and was easily saved by the goalkeeper. The breakthrough arrived from the penalty spot after Lukáš Ambros was penalized for handball in the area. Baena’s powerful strike beat goalkeeper Matěj Kovář.
Spain believed they had doubled their lead after half-time, but VAR ruled out an effort by Yéremy Pino. The game was physical, with referee Nikola Dabanovic booking Pedro Porro in the 12th minute and Mikel Merino in the 69th. He then sent off Krejčí, leaving the hosts a man down for the closing stages.
Spain capitalized on their numerical advantage deep into added time. Pubill won the ball back in Czechia’s half and rolled it into the bottom corner, settling the contest. For Atlético supporters, Baena’s goal was the highlight of the night. Fermín López, by contrast, is still awaiting his first goal for Spain.
A draw against England will be enough for top spot
The victory marked Spain’s 12th consecutive win and their fifth straight success in the Nations League. ESPN noted that this result extended their unbeaten run across all competitions. Spain’s last defeat came against Colombia in March 2024. Meanwhile, Czechia have lost every Nations League game this season.
England kept pace on the same night by beating Croatia 2-1 at Wembley, leaving them three points behind Spain. This sets up a direct contest for first place. A draw against England at the Metropolitano on Sunday will be sufficient for Spain to finish top of the group.
Spain should also be stronger for that upcoming game. Yamal’s knee issue meant Prague was the first match he missed for club or country this season. He had started all 20 previous matches, recording 17 goals and 13 assists. He will rejoin the squad for Sunday’s meeting with England.
Sources
- Czechia 0-2 Spain (Nov 12, 2026) Game Analysis (ESPN)
- Spain Extend Their Winning Run in Prague (0-2) (RFEF)
- UEFA Nations League Matchday 5 round-up: Netherlands hit seven, Germany beat Serbia (UEFA)
- Ruiz and Torres’ Spain go 5 for 5 (Paris Saint-Germain)
