Spain continued their impressive start to the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Croatia at a packed Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb, a result that strengthens their position at the top of their group and hands Croatia their first defeat of the competition.

Match overview

How the game unfolded

Croatia began with the energy of a home crowd behind them, pressing high and forcing Spain into a handful of hurried clearances in the opening quarter of an hour. Luka Modrić, still dictating the rhythm of this Croatian side, twice slipped passes into the channels that asked real questions of the Spanish back line. But Spain absorbed the pressure, gradually slowed the tempo to their own liking, and took control of the ball in the middle third.

The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute. A patient move down the right ended with Lamine Yamal cutting inside onto his left foot and threading a pass into the space between Croatia's centre-backs. Pedri arrived late, took one touch to set himself and drilled a low shot past Dominik Livaković from the edge of the area. It was the kind of goal Spain have made a trademark: unhurried, precise and ruthless at the decisive moment.

Croatia responded well before the interval and had their best spell of the match immediately after the restart, with Martin Baturina and Petar Musa both forcing saves from Unai Simón. But Spain's second goal, on 63 minutes, effectively settled the contest. Yamal was again the creator, driving at Josip Stanišić before pulling the ball back for Ferran Torres, who swept a first-time finish into the bottom corner from twelve yards.

Croatia were given a lifeline in the 71st minute when Baturina was brought down inside the box and Andrej Kramarić stepped up to convert the penalty with typical composure. The final twenty minutes were played almost entirely in Spain's half, with Croatia throwing crosses into the area, but the visitors defended their lead with discipline and a little bit of luck when a stoppage-time header flashed wide.

Key moments

• 34' – Pedri opens the scoring for Spain after a slick combination with Lamine Yamal.
• 52' – Unai Simón produces a sharp low save to deny Croatia an equaliser.
• 63' – Ferran Torres doubles Spain's lead from Yamal's cut-back.
• 71' – Kramarić converts a penalty to halve the deficit.
• 90+3' – Croatia's last chance from a corner drifts narrowly wide.

Tactical story

Spain's control came from the midfield triangle of Rodri, Pedri and Fabián Ruiz, who between them repeatedly recycled possession and drew Croatia's press before releasing the wide forwards into space. Croatia's 4-3-3 became increasingly stretched as they chased the game, and the gap between their midfield and defence was exactly the space Yamal exploited for both goals.

Croatia's best moments came when they bypassed the press altogether, hitting long diagonals towards Musa and looking for second balls around the edge of the box. It was a plan that produced chances, but not enough clear-cut ones to punish a Spain side that defended its box well in the closing stages.

Standout players

Lamine Yamal was the outstanding attacking influence on the pitch, involved in both Spanish goals and a constant source of danger whenever he isolated his marker. Pedri's timing of arrival in the box remains one of the most underrated parts of his game, while Rodri's positional discipline allowed Spain to keep their shape even as Croatia pushed numbers forward.

For Croatia, Modrić and Baturina were the creative sparks, and Kramarić's penalty was taken with the calm of a player who has scored in big matches for more than a decade. Livaković kept the scoreline respectable with three important saves.

What it means

The win keeps Spain unbeaten and firmly in contention for a place in the Nations League knockout phase, while Croatia are left needing results in their remaining fixtures to keep their own qualification hopes alive. For a Croatia side in the middle of a generational transition, the performance offered encouragement even in defeat — but the margin between competing with Europe's best and beating them remains frustratingly narrow.