What's up, lads? First night at home as two-time world champions and La Roja didn't disappoint: Spain 4-1 Croatia at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. With Lamine Yamal in alien mode: two goals, one assist and player of the match. Plus Marc Pubill's first goal for the senior side. Now that's how you do it.
There hadn't even been time to settle in. Spain moved the ball quickly, Lamine received near the box, cut onto his foot and placed it past Livaković: 1-0 after two minutes. Croatia, with Modrić on the pitch, levelled at 28 with a header from Dion Beljo following Perišić's cross. But the response came within three minutes: short corner from Lamine, one-two pass, measured cross and Pubill, arriving from deep, headed it in. 2-1 and his first goal for the senior team.
Croatia tried to turn up the pressure after the break, but Spain had the ball and control. Lamine got his brace and Nico Williams sealed the rout. By the 78th minute, the Pizjuán was singing the anthem: full party on the champions' first night at home. De la Fuente shuffled the bench, bringing on fresh faces like Roberto Fernández, and the team didn't even blink.
With the 2-3 at Wembley against England and this 4-1, Spain have two wins from two matches and top their Nations League group. Not bad for kicking off the second-star era.
The next match is Saturday 3 October at 20:45 at the Carlos Tartière, against Czech Republic. Eleven years on, the national team returns to Asturias. All the build-up, with Spain's history in Oviedo, in the Spain-Czech Republic match at the Tartière. And if you're wondering what the star of the night earns, the Lamine article drops on 1 October.
Spain beat Croatia 4-1 on 29 September 2026 at the Sánchez-Pizjuán, with two goals from Lamine Yamal, one from Marc Pubill and another from Nico Williams. Dion Beljo scored for Croatia.
Lamine Yamal (two, the first in the 2nd minute), Marc Pubill (31', his first goal for the senior team) and Nico Williams; for Croatia, Dion Beljo (28').
Saturday 3 October 2026 at 20:45 against the Czech Republic at the Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo.
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