Spain vs Croatia Preview: World Champions Return Home Against Croatia

UEFA Nations League  -  Spain VS Croatia
Match Time:30-09-2026 02:45 Wednesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Spain will play their first home match since winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they welcome Croatia to the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in Seville on September 29. The match is the second round of the UEFA Nations League, with Spain coming off a 3-2 victory over England and Croatia beginning their campaign with a 2-1 win against the Czech Republic.

Team Analysis
Spain made an impressive start to the new Nations League campaign at Wembley. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring early, but England turned the match around before half-time. Luis de la Fuente's substitutions proved decisive, with Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal both scoring after coming off the bench to secure a 3-2 comeback victory.

Spain have now avoided defeat in normal time in their last 10 international matches. They have also won seven of their 10 official meetings with Croatia, including each of their last three encounters. The most recent competitive meeting ended in a 3-0 Spain victory at Euro 2024.

Croatia, meanwhile, began Slaven Bilic's second spell as national-team coach with a 2-1 away win over the Czech Republic. Luka Modric opened the scoring before Marco Pasalic scored the winning goal. However, Croatia have not beaten Spain since their 3-2 Nations League victory in November 2018, while their only victory on Spanish soil came in a 1994 friendly.

Player Situation
Spain will be without several players because of injuries. Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia and Tottenham defender Pedro Porro withdrew before the England match, while Eric Garcia has subsequently left the squad after suffering a knee issue during the warm-up at Wembley. Atletico Madrid defender Robin Le Normand has been called up as his replacement.

Baena and Oyarzabal are pushing for starting places after their influential performances against England. Pedri is also in contention to return to the starting XI, while Lamine Yamal remains one of Spain's main attacking threats. Nowgoal's projected lineup includes Unai Simon, Marc Pubill, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri, Yamal, Dani Olmo, Baena and Oyarzabal.

Croatia will be without Josip Juranovic and Martin Erlic after both withdrew through injury. Lovro Majer, Marin Pongracic and Kristijan Jakic have been called up as replacements. Marco Pasalic could earn a starting role after scoring the winner against the Czech Republic, while Ante Budimir is another option in attack.

Spain possible lineup:
Simon; Pubill, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal

Croatia possible lineup:
Livakovic; Stanisic, Vuskovic, Gvardiol, Perisic; Modric, Kovacic; L. Sucic, P. Sucic, Mario Pasalic; Budimir

Result Prediction
Croatia showed their resilience with a comeback win in Prague, and the experience of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic could make the visitors competitive in midfield. However, Spain have considerably more attacking options and will have the advantage of playing their first home match since lifting the World Cup.

The combination of Yamal's individual quality, Spain's midfield control and the potential return of Baena and Oyarzabal should give the hosts enough attacking threat to create multiple chances. Nowgoal also expects Spain to claim all three points, predicting a 3-1 victory.

PredictionSpain 3-1 Croatia