Spain v Serbia live - UEFA Nations League latest as Alex Baena ...

9 hours ago

Eurosport.com

Updated 15/10/2024 at 20:47 GMT

REPORT: SPAIN EASE TO 3-0 WIN OVER SERBIA

Photo Eurosport.com

Spain booked their place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with a hard-fought 3-0 win over toothless Serbia.

Though Spain dominated proceedings, especially after Aymeric Laporte’s headed opener just five minutes in, it wasn’t until well into the second-half that victory was assured, when Alvaro Morata atoned for a skied penalty by lashing home the second goal.

It came just moments after Aleksandar Mitrovic had missed a golden chance to put his side level, but Serbia unravelled in the final quarter and finished the game with 10 men after VAR upgraded Stahinja Pavlovic’s yellow card.

He felled Mikel Oyarzabal just outside the penalty area and Alex Baena’s exquisite free kick capped a deserved victory for La Roja, who join Germany in the Nations League knockouts.

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Spain vs Serbia - Figure 2 — Photo Eurosport.com

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End of 2nd Half

FULL-TIME: SPAIN 3-0 SERBIA

And that's all she wrote! It's victory in dominant fashion for Spain and they're into the quarter-finals of the Nations League.

As Zaragoza sees his shot deflected in a bright cameo, there's not long to go in this one.

Serbia are finally enjoying some possession but even that nearly leads to another goal for their opponents - Joselu sprinting onto a loose ball only to fire wide.

Spain are playing for fun now - and their stats. Pedri just misses out, his shot crashing into the crossbar.

79'

And that's Baena's last action of the night, he's off for late call-up Zubimendi.

78'

GOAL!!! SPAIN 3-0 SERBIA (BAENA)

It's absolutely sensational! The free-kick is absolutely textbook from Baena, his performance has deserved a goal.

On his full debut, Baena sends his dipping delivery over the wall into the top corner, Rajkovic was rooted to the spot on the other side of the goal.

Photo Eurosport.com

76'

It's upgraded to red, and there's no real surprise. The foul was outside the box and Nikola Milenkovic wasn't too far away but that's a sending off at least nine times out of 10.

Red card

S. Pavlovic

Serbia

75'

Oyarzabal is felled on the edge of the penalty area chasing a through ball, but the referee only draws a yellow card.

That still means he'll miss the next game along with fellow centre-back Erakovic, but the referee is then called over to the VAR monitor...

There's still over 15 minutes to go but this contest is almost certainly over. The only question is whether Spain can boost their goal difference even more.

Aex Baena has been arguably Spain's standout player today, but is missing a goal involvement. That nearly changed as he launched a fizzing shot that drifted just too close to Rajkovic, who could still only palm the ball away.

66'

He wasn't a part of that goal, but Pedri actually entered the fray before the goal in place of Merino, who was lively in the first-half but faded.

65'

GOAL!! SPAIN 2-0 SERBIA (MORATA)

Spain vs Serbia - Figure 4 — Photo Eurosport.com

Morata atones! And in some style too. Oyarzabal kickstarted the move and a neat 1-2 with Ruiz broke the Serbian defence open.

It still required an inch-perfect finish though, one that Morata delivered.

63'

That's not the Aleksandar Mitrovic we're accustomed to. Spain are split over by a peach of a pass from Sasa Zdjelar and the captain's strike partner turns in a knee-high cross with the net gaping and Raya caught in no-man's land.

Incredibly though, Mitrovic fires high and wide, and it's Zdjelar's last intervention.

The thing about Spain is they always try and walk it in.

Ok, it's not been quite that bad, but the hosts appear to be attempting to go close to scoring is as many different ways as possible.

Once again the Baena-Morata link fashions a threatening shot, this time Morata stabs it at Rajkovic who makes a superb reaction save at a range of just a few yards.

But somehow this one remains 1-0. Baena has shone on debut and whipped in a devilish cross that Morata flicked onto the unmarked Oyarzabal at the back post.

He reacts well, but not well enough and the header flies past the post.

56'

WOW! Morata blazes the penalty well over the bar, and Serbia survive! That's a stinker, does it make the yellow card Mitrovic received for his protests worth it?

Yellow card

A. Mitrovic

Serbia

53'

This should be game over. Spain remain in top gear and Alex Baena gets the chance to fire at goal from the edge of the penalty area. He's stopped by the onrushing Veljka Birmancevic - but crucially by an arm of the onrushing Veljka Birmancevic.

That was almost a horror show from Rajkovic. he was caught in possession from behind by Morata and the ball dribbled to a Spaniard who lashed it into the net - but the Serbian smartly went down after contact with the opposing striker and it's still 1-0.