Yamal nets brace as Spain goes 40 games unbeaten
Lamine Yamal scored twice and got an assist for Spain as the world champion defeated Croatia 4-1 in the Nations League.
Marc Pubill and Nico Williams were also on the scoresheet for La Roja at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where Rodri showcased the World Cup before kick-off in Spain's first home game since winning the competition in the summer.
Just as he did against England in its Nations League opener, Yamal opened the scoring inside the first two minutes as he curled Alex Baena's cut-back into the bottom-left corner with a first-time finish.
Spain pushed for a second, with Pau Cubarsi shooting narrowly wide from distance, but Croatia scored against the run of play just before the half-hour mark as Dion Beljo headed in from Ivan Perisic's pinpoint cross.
However, the host was back ahead just three minutes later as Yamal played a corner short before eventually sending in a cross, which was headed in by an unmarked Pubill in the six-yard box.
Mikel Oyarzabal saw a goal ruled out for offside and Fermin Lopez struck the woodwork before half-time, but Spain eventually got their third in the 63rd minute as Yamal powered in at the near post after Pedri's level reverse pass.
Pedri saw a long-range strike pushed away by Dominik Livakovic shortly after Franjo Ivanovic curled wide at the other end, though Williams wrapped up a comfortable victory with a clinical finish in the 89th minute.
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana
Spain
