Euro 2024 holders Spain booked their spot in the quarterfinals of the Nations League as they eased past Serbia in Cordoba. The Serbians had held Luis de la Fuente’s side to a 0-0 draw earlier this year, but were clearly second best here at the Nuevo Arcangel Stadium, and would’ve lost by more if not for the heroics of Predrag Rajkovic in goal.
Spain took only five minutes to score their first, with Aymeric Laporte nodding home Pedro Porro’s cross. The hosts had nine shots to Serbia’s one in the first half, and that dominance continued in the second half, with La Roja finishing with a whopping 30 shots. Serbia managed just 3 by comparison.
Veljko Birmancevic’s handball saw Spain get a second-half penalty, but captain Alvaro Morata blazed his effort over the bar. Morata then atoned for his mistake later with a lovely finish in the 65th minute following a nice one-two with Fabian Ruiz.
Serbia were reduced to 10 when Strahinja Pavlovic was sent off for a foul on Oyarzabal. The ref originally gave him a yellow, but changed it to a red following VAR intervention. Alex Baena scored from a lovely free kick immediately after the dismissal as Spain completed a comfortable 3-0 victory.
