Spain fight off Czech Republic to remain perfect in Nations League

[p]Returning to Oviedo for the first time in 11 years to play a home international fixture, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Luis de la Fuente[/a]’s men were overwhelming favourites to dispatch a Czech side that travelled winless in their previous five outings (D1, L4).[/p][p]True to form, Spain came flying out of the blocks, and their early intent was rewarded in the sixth minute, when Lamine Yamal curled a spectacular strike into the far corner from 18 yards to open the scoring in a third successive match for La Roja.[/p][p]Lamine’s brilliance set the tone for a one-sided opening 20 minutes, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olmo-dani/2oVBOlPg/"]Dani Olmo[/a] saw a close-range effort superbly blocked, before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kinsky-antonin/hv1U4aGj/"]Antonin Kinsky[/a] stood firm to deny [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baena-alex/bmeQTB92/"]Alex Baena[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pedri/baBG8QuI/"]Pedri[/a] in quick succession.[/p][p]Having conceded at least two goals in four of their last five internationals, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/denia-santiago/zBGq3u0i/"]Santi Denia[/a]’s side looked to stem the hosts’ momentum as the first half progressed.[/p][p]However, there was no stopping the rampant Spaniards, who deservedly doubled their lead in the 35th minute, when Rodri latched onto a loose ball in the box and swept an unerring finish into the top corner.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="2a4eabea-fc0e-40e6-9563-c73d09cba86c" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="6e0e1273-ec8f-48e9-873d-258b42e5328e" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]De la Fuente made a double substitution at the break, giving key attacking duo Lamine Yamal and Baena a welcome breather ahead of Tuesday’s clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a].[/p][p]Despite those changes, Spain remained in complete control of proceedings at the start of the second period, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-roberto/l2dekgrS/"]Roberto Fernandez[/a] seeing a low effort thwarted by Kinsky.[/p][p]The visitors refused to lie down without a fight, though, and their resilience paid dividends in the 69th minute, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hlozek-adam/2FUsDXpd/"]Adam Hlozek[/a]’s pass was drilled into the bottom corner by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/slama-jiri/AH7V3mMB/"]Jiri Slama[/a] to give Denia’s men an unlikely lifeline.[/p][image alt="Match momemtum" id="27dbcb5d-e8e3-4794-b0e0-726fce47111d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="fe0b429f-9e19-47bd-b891-2f55dcea687d" original-width="3840" original-height="2160" /][p]That provided the Czechs with renewed energy heading into the final quarter-hour, and the visitors thought they’d drawn level when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/naderi-ryan-don/jar3Kipo/"]Ryan Naderi[/a] poked home from close range, only for the substitute’s goal to be disallowed for a foul in the build-up.[/p][p]Grateful for that reprieve, Spain were handed a timely boost with five minutes remaining, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/krejci-ladislav/nZ8SVvvE/"]Ladislav Krejci[/a] was shown a second yellow card for a cynical foul on Fernandez. [/p][p]Armed with the numerical advantage, La Roja regained control of the contest, and they wrapped up the three points through [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merino-mikel/QFt86bm1/"]Mikel Merino[/a], who powered home a loose ball in the box to maintain Spain’s 100% start to Group A3.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodri/K0G8DB00/"]Rodri[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a])[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/czech-republic-6LHwBDGU/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=88DcZcBG"]Check out all the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/p][infobox id="5a8fbd57-e97c-4bdc-9f6b-fb0fb254e893" /]