Yamal and Merino help Spain beat Czechia to make it three wins from three

Spain beat Czechia 3-1 at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo on Saturday, October 3, extending their winning start in Nations League Group A3. Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Mikel Merino scored for the hosts, while Jiri Slama replied for the visitors, according to Sky Sports' match record.

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Yamal again supplied the early breakthrough. Cadena SER reported that the winger curled a left-footed shot towards the far post beyond Antonin Kinsky, opening the scoring early for the third successive Spain match. His goal put the visitors behind before they had completed the opening six minutes, continuing his sequence of fast starts in the competition.

Luis de la Fuente had made nine changes, according to El Espanol, but Spain still established a two-goal advantage before the interval through Rodri. The report described a performance that moved from first-half superiority to a less secure finish, with the home side unable to maintain the same command throughout the evening despite their lead.

Slama's second-half goal brought Czechia back within one. AS reported that the visitors came close to drawing level around the 80th minute, before their hopes suffered another setback when Ladislav Krejci was dismissed. Cadena SER said his second yellow card followed a pull on Roberto. Merino subsequently restored Spain's two-goal cushion, ending the visitors' chance of salvaging a result.

Sky Sports' full-time figures recorded 69% possession for Spain and an 18-5 advantage in total attempts. The hosts put 10 shots on target to Czechia's two and won all five of the game's corners. Those numbers underline Spain's territorial and attacking advantage, even though the score remained at 2-1 until the closing stages of the match.

The result follows Spain's 3-2 away victory over England and 4-1 home win against Croatia, completing three wins from their first three group fixtures. Czechia, meanwhile, have lost each of their opening three games. AS highlighted Spain's November meeting with England at the Metropolitano as a significant contest for the group lead, with the Spanish side carrying a perfect record into the next phase of the campaign.