World champions Spain welcome Croatia to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in Sevilla for another League A clash in the UEFA Nations League. Both sides began the campaign with victories, so this match could have an important impact on the early group standings.
La Roja go into the game as favourites, but Croatia have made a positive start under new head coach Slaven Bilic and will be looking to challenge the Spanish side.
Spain vs Croatia Betting Tips
- Spain to Win
- Croatia Over 0.5 Goals
- Mikel Oyarzabal to Score
Spain Preview and News
Spain began their Nations League campaign with an impressive 3-2 win over England at Wembley. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring before England turned the game around, but Luis de la Fuente’s side responded after the break. Substitutes Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal made the difference with their contributions.
With another match coming quickly, De la Fuente could rotate his starting XI. Baena and Oyarzabal are candidates to replace Nico Williams and Ferran Torres, while Pedri and Fermin Lopez could also return instead of Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo.
Baena was one of Spain’s standout performers at Wembley, scoring and assisting after coming off the bench. Following Nico Williams’ quiet display, Baena has a strong chance of starting against Croatia.
Croatia Preview and News
Slaven Bilic began his second spell in charge of Croatia with a valuable 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in Prague. Luka Modric opened the scoring before Marco Pasalic netted the decisive second goal.
Croatia’s 4-2-3-1 system worked well against the Czechs, but Spain will provide a much tougher test. The midfield battle could be crucial, with Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic expected to play important roles. Josko Gvardiol will also have a demanding task against Spain’s attacking players.
Modric continues to be a key figure despite his age. The AC Milan midfielder delivered another influential performance in Prague and will once again be Croatia’s main creative presence in midfield.
Head-to-Head Matches
This will be the 12th meeting between Spain and Croatia. Spain have won seven of the previous 11 encounters, while Croatia have recorded three victories. The other match ended in a draw.
Spain vs Croatia Betting Preview
Both teams arrive in Sevilla with three points, but Spain have greater attacking depth and more quality in key areas. Their ability to make an impact from the bench was clear against England, and playing at home should further strengthen their position.
Croatia have enough experience and attacking quality to cause problems, making Croatia Over 0.5 Goals an interesting option. Our main pick remains Spain to Win, while Mikel Oyarzabal is worth considering in the goalscorer market if he starts.