October 16, (THEWILL) – Spain advanced to the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Serbia on Tuesday evening. The reigning European champions demonstrated their strength despite missing key players from their Euro 2024 triumph.
The match, held in Cordoba, saw Spain take an early lead through Aymeric Laporte’s header in the fifth minute. Alvaro Morata, despite missing a penalty, found redemption with a well-placed finish in the second half. Alex Baena sealed the win with a expertly executed free-kick following Strahinja Pavlovic’s dismissal for a foul on Mikel Oyarzabal.
Luis de la Fuente’s squad showed depth and versatility in the absence of injured stars like Lamine Yamal, Rodri Hernandez, and Dani Carvajal. The victory extends Spain’s unbeaten run to 14 matches and guarantees their progression from Group A4 with two games remaining.
Morata, who had not scored for the national team since the opening game of Euro 2024, expressed gratitude for the support from Cordoba’s fans. The striker’s perseverance paid off as he contributed to Spain’s dominant performance, which included hitting the woodwork twice through Mikel Merino and Pedri.
The result builds on Spanish success at Euro 2024. With this convincing win, they have sent a clear message to their competitors as they aim to add the Nations League title to their recent European Championship victory.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
