Spain have won 12 in a row without needing Yamal in Prague, and a draw with England in Madrid will win them the group
Alex Baena’s penalty and a 96th-minute goal from Marc Pubill beat ten-man Czechia 2-0, and Spain are now 44 matches unbeaten going into Sunday’s Nations League decider.
Nov 13, 2026
Spain did not need Lamine Yamal in Prague. With the Barcelona forward out injured, Luis de la Fuente’s side beat Czechia 2-0 on Thursday night, their fifth win from five in the Nations League group and their 12th in a row in all competitions. They have now gone 44 matches without a defeat.
Alex Baena scored a first-half penalty and substitute Marc Pubill added the second deep into stoppage time. Czechia played the last 25 minutes or so with ten men after their captain, Ladislav Krejčí, was sent off. It is the second time he has been sent off against Spain this autumn.
VAR had a busy night
The opener came from a VAR check. Lukáš Ambros was penalised for handball, and Baena sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot before half-time. Yéremy Pino thought he had doubled the lead early in the second half when he ran on to a long ball from Unai Simón and finished, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Czechia came closest when Adam Hložek’s header hit the crossbar. Their captain then cost them any chance of a comeback. Krejčí was shown a yellow card for his foul on Roberto Fernández, and VAR upgraded it to red as the last man. In the reverse fixture in Oviedo on 3 October, a 3-1 Spain win, he was sent off late on as well.
Spain should have won by more. They had 22 shots and hit the woodwork three times, with Fabián Ruiz and Fernández both striking the post, while Czechia did not put a single attempt on target. Pubill finally made it safe in the 96th minute, beating Matěj Kovář low into the corner.
England in Madrid for top spot
Spain and England are both through to the quarter-finals, and the group comes down to their meeting at the Metropolitano on Sunday, 15 November. Spain have 15 points to England’s 12, so a draw would be enough for them to finish first. England, who lost 3-2 to Spain at Wembley in September, have to win.
Kick-off is 8:45pm in Madrid, which is 1:15am IST on Monday. Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday, with Harry Kane scoring the winner from the spot on his record 126th cap. De la Fuente has said he expects Yamal, who stayed in Barcelona to rest an inflamed right knee, to join up with the squad on Friday. Spain beat England at Wembley with him. In Madrid, they only need a point.