Spain defeats Serbia 3-0 with ease to go to the Nations League knockout stages.

Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Serbia at home by European champions Spain, led by goals from Aymeric Laporte, Alvaro Morata, and Alex Baena, secured their spot in the Nations League quarterfinals.

Spain leads League A Group Four with 10 points, three ahead of Denmark and six ahead of Serbia, with two games remaining to guarantee at least a second-place finish. Switzerland is bottom with one point following a 2-2 home draw with the Danes.

Despite having key players missing from the squad that defeated England 2-1 in the July Euro 2024 final, Spain defeated Serbia with 30 shots to just three for the visitors.

With a close-range header from defender Laporte in the fifth minute, Spain took the lead. After 65 minutes, Morata, who had missed a penalty in the 54th, added to the lead with a strike from just inside the area.

After Mikel Oyarzabal was sent off for a last-man tackle by Serbia’s Strahinja Pavlovic in the 78th minute, Baena curled a beautiful free into the top corner to seal an easy win for Spain.

“We are in the final stages of another major tournament, and that is something to be proud of,” captain Morata said to TVE, a public television station in Spain.

It may appear simple because we are usually present at the end, but that isn’t always the case, so we must recognize its uniqueness and accord it the respect it deserves.

“We missed a few of our injured players, but we also need to focus on the fact that young players are stepping up. We must continue because what we have built is unique. Spain’s future is quite bright.”

Luis de la Fuente’s team faced Serbia without teenage phenom Lamine Yamal after they defeated Denmark 1-0 on Saturday. The Danes were missing Dani Carvajal and Rodri due to significant knee injuries, along with important players Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, and Robin Le Normand.

 

 

Though they handily defeated Serbia and won Group A4 for the third time in a row, his depleted team did not miss a as they finished in the top two and became the second team, after Germany, to book a quarterfinal spot.