Croatia vs Spain, 2026-27 UEFA Nations League, League Phase

Spain rally to beat Croatia, unbeaten run up to 43 games

Spain preserved a 2½-year unbeaten streak by rallying to beat Croatia 2-1 thanks to a clutch second-half double from super-sub Mikel Merino on Tuesday in Split.

• 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
• 0': First Half begins.
• 6': Attempt blocked. Ivan Perisic (Croatia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.
• 6': Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Marc Pubill.
• 7': Foul by Luka Vuskovic (Croatia).
• 7': Aymeric Laporte (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 13': Attempt saved. Josip Stanisic (Croatia) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the top right corner by Unai Simón (Spain). Assisted by Ivan Perisic with a cross.
• 13': Attempt missed. Kristijan Jakic (Croatia) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Josip Stanisic.
• 14': Igor Matanovic (Croatia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
• 14': Foul by Pau Cubarsí (Spain).
• 15': Foul by Igor Matanovic (Croatia).
• 15': Aymeric Laporte (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 16': Nikola Vlasic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 16': Foul by Marc Cucurella (Spain).
• 17': Attempt saved. Igor Matanovic (Croatia) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Unai Simón (Spain). Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.
• 17': Goal! Croatia 1, Spain 0. Ivan Perisic (Croatia) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
• 20': Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Marc Pubill.
• 21': Attempt missed. Igor Matanovic (Croatia) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Luka Modric with a cross following a corner.
• 22': Foul by Ivan Perisic (Croatia).
• 22': Marc Pubill (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 22': Ivan Perisic (Croatia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• 23': Attempt saved. Igor Matanovic (Croatia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Unai Simón (Spain). Assisted by Nikola Vlasic.
• 23': Luka Vuskovic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 23': Foul by Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain).
• 24': Handball by Ivan Perisic (Croatia).
• 24': Foul by Kristijan Jakic (Croatia).
• 24': Pedri (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
• 25': Attempt blocked. Álex Baena (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
• 26': Handball by Mateo Kovacic (Croatia).
• 33': Foul by Kristijan Jakic (Croatia).
• 33': Dani Olmo (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 33': Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
• 33': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Josko Gvardiol.
• 34': Josip Stanisic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 34': Foul by Aymeric Laporte (Spain).
• 35': Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 35': Foul by Marc Pubill (Spain).
• 37': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Josko Gvardiol.
• 38': Igor Matanovic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 38': Foul by Pau Cubarsí (Spain).
• 42': Attempt missed. Nikola Vlasic (Croatia) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Luka Modric following a fast break.
• 42': Attempt missed. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marc Cucurella with a cross.
• 43': Attempt blocked. Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
• 43': Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Pau Cubarsí.
• 45': Attempt saved. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Dominik Livakovic (Croatia). Assisted by Aymeric Laporte with a cross.
• 45'+1': Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
• 45'+1': Attempt missed. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Pedri with a through ball.
• 45'+2': First Half ends, Croatia 1, Spain 0.
• 45': Substitution, Spain. Mikel Merino replaces Álex Baena.
• 45': Second Half begins Croatia 1, Spain 0.
• 46': Foul by Nikola Vlasic (Croatia).
• 46': Marc Cucurella (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 46': Foul by Luka Vuskovic (Croatia).
• 46': Mikel Merino (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• 50': Attempt missed. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
• 53': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Josip Stanisic.
• 57': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Josko Gvardiol.
• 61': Goal! Croatia 1, Spain 1. Mikel Merino (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Dani Olmo.
• 65': Delay in match (Spain).
• 65': Luka Modric (Croatia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• 65': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• 65': Substitution, Croatia. Dion Beljo replaces Igor Matanovic.
• 66': Substitution, Croatia. Petar Sucic replaces Luka Modric.
• 66': Kristijan Jakic (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• 66': Foul by Rodri (Spain).
• 66': Rodri (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• 69': Offside, Spain. Marc Cucurella is caught offside.
• 70': Josip Sutalo (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 70': Foul by Marc Cucurella (Spain).
• 71': Substitution, Spain. Martín Zubimendi replaces Rodri.
• 71': Substitution, Spain. Fermín López replaces Dani Olmo.
• 71': Substitution, Croatia. Martin Baturina replaces Nikola Vlasic.
• 76': Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Aymeric Laporte.
• 76': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Martin Baturina.
• 77': Attempt saved. Ivan Perisic (Croatia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Unai Simón (Spain).
• 78': Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Croatia).
• 78': Pedri (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 78': Substitution, Spain. Víctor Muñoz replaces Lamine Yamal.
• 79': Foul by Ivan Perisic (Croatia).
• 79': Marc Cucurella (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
• 79': Second yellow card to Ivan Perisic (Croatia) for a bad foul.
• 83': Foul by Martin Baturina (Croatia).
• 83': Marc Pubill (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 85': Martin Baturina (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 85': Foul by Marc Pubill (Spain).
• 86': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Martin Baturina.
• 87': Attempt blocked. Víctor Muñoz (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marc Cucurella.
• 87': Offside, Spain. Martín Zubimendi is caught offside.
• 87': Substitution, Spain. Yéremy Pino replaces Pedri.
• 88': Substitution, Croatia. Mario Pasalic replaces Mateo Kovacic.
• 88': Goal! Croatia 1, Spain 2. Mikel Merino (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Martín Zubimendi.
• 90': Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
• 90'+2': Martin Baturina (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• 90'+2': Foul by Víctor Muñoz (Spain).
• 90'+2': Víctor Muñoz (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• 90'+5': Second Half ends, Croatia 1, Spain 2.
• 0': Match ends, Croatia 1, Spain 2.