Spain's Dominant 3-0 Victory Over Serbia Boosts Quarter-Final Aspirations

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Spain moved closer to the Nations League quarter-finals with a decisive 3-0 win over Serbia. Luis de la Fuente's team now needs only a draw from their remaining two matches next month to advance. The victory in Cordoba was straightforward, with Aymeric Laporte scoring early from a corner set up by Pedro Porro.

Mikel Merino nearly doubled the lead when his header hit the post after Alex Baena's cross. Spain missed another chance when Alvaro Morata failed to convert a penalty in the 54th minute, following Veljko Birmancevic's handball on Porro's shot. However, Morata soon redeemed himself by scoring from Fabian Ruiz's assist.

Serbia faced further setbacks when Strahinja Pavlovic received a red card for his challenge on Mikel Oyarzabal after a VAR review. Baena then scored from the resulting free-kick, sealing Spain's victory. This win highlights Spain's strong form under De la Fuente.

Spain's unbeaten streak now extends to 19 matches in competitive play, excluding friendlies. This is their best run since they went 29 games unbeaten between June 2010 and June 2013. During this period, they have won 17 times and drawn twice, showcasing their consistent performance.

Their dominance was evident against Serbia, as they recorded an expected goals (xG) of 2.9 compared to Serbia’s lowly 0.37. This reflects Spain’s control throughout the match and Serbia’s struggles to create significant chances.

De la Fuente has led Spain to success, including their Euro 2024 victory in Germany. His leadership has been pivotal in maintaining Spain’s impressive form and extending their unbeaten record across various competitions.