Five matches, five wins. Spain left the epet Arena in Prague with a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic on matchday five of the Nations League group stage, moved to 15 points and now need only a draw against England to finish first. The result looked comfortable on the scoreboard, but the performance was much messier than that.

At times this was exactly the sort of away game good international sides have to manage rather than enjoy. Spain got in front through Álex Baena's 39th-minute penalty, had to ride out an awkward spell after the break, then settled it in the 90+6th minute through Marc Pubill.

Spain's control was real, but not especially polished

The basic numbers still flatter Spain's campaign. They have 15 points from 15 available in League A Group C, and their group goals-for-and-against line now stands at 12-5. Over five matches, that is the profile of a team that has largely kept control of its section.

Thursday's game, Czech Republic vs Spain, did not feel like a cruise for long stretches. Spain needed VAR to confirm a handball by Lukas Ambros in the Czech area before Baena could open the scoring from the spot in the 39th minute. That gave them the lead, but not total authority.

One translated match report from Estadio Deportivo summed it up neatly: "An innocent penalty converted by Baena and a goal by Marc Pubill in stoppage time tipped the balance in a match of little brilliance from the world champions, who were affected by the absences but put their work boots on to seal their fifth victory in the Nations League," in comments translated from Spanish.

That feels about right. Spain were effective and mature, but they were not especially slick. The important part for Luis de la Fuente is that they kept the game in a range they could still win, even when the rhythm dipped.

There is a separate disagreement over the size of Spain's wider unbeaten run. One source put it at 43 matches, another at 44. With that split, the cleaner fact is the one nobody disputes: this was Spain's 12th consecutive victory, and it kept their Nations League record perfect after five group matches.

The key moments all went Spain's way

Baena's goal gave Spain the platform, but the game stayed alive much longer than they would have wanted. The Czech side had made things uncomfortable after the interval, and Spain briefly thought they had a second before Yéremy Pino was flagged offside after finishing a move that started with an assist from Unai Simón, according to So Foot.

The biggest swing came in the 72nd minute. Ladislav Krejčí was sent off after a foul on Roberto Fernández, and the decision followed a VAR review. Meczyki.pl described the sequence this way, in comments translated from Polish: "In the 70th minute, Krejci broke the rules, stopping Roberto Fernandez, who was close to going through one on one. Initially, the referee showed him a yellow card. In the end, the VAR system stepped in again. After the review, the Czech Republic captain was sent off."

The reported minute varies across outlets, but the verified match event has the dismissal in the 72nd. More importantly, the red card changed the balance of the closing stages. Spain had more room, more calm and, eventually, the second goal.

Pubill supplied it in the 90+6th minute after the hosts failed to clear properly. It was a tidy finish and an important one, because the scoreline ended up looking firmer than the contest had been. Pubill now has two Nations League goals this season, the same total as Baena.

England now decide first place

This was not Spain at their best, and they did not need it to be. The group table is what matters most now: five wins, 15 points, and first place still in their hands.

Sunday's game against England at the Metropolitano will decide the section, and Spain go into it knowing a draw is enough to stay top.

FAQ

Will Spain finish first in their Nations League group after beating Czech Republic?

Spain moved to 15 points with a 2-0 win in Prague on matchday five of the Nations League group stage. That leaves them needing only a draw against England in the final group match to secure first place.

Why was Spain's win over Czech Republic not as convincing as the score suggests?

Spain won 2-0 but it was not a particularly fluent display. Their opener came from a VAR-confirmed penalty after a handball by Lukas Ambros, Czechia made the game awkward after the break, and the second goal only arrived in stoppage time after Ladislav Krejci had been sent off.

How did Marc Pubill and Álex Baena decide Spain vs Czech Republic?

Baena put Spain ahead from the penalty spot in the 39th minute after VAR confirmed a handball in the area. Pubill then sealed the win in the 90+6th minute, giving Spain a 2-0 result that kept their perfect Nations League record intact.

Was Ladislav Krejci's red card a major turning point against Spain?

Yes, it changed the final phase of the match. Krejci was sent off in the 72nd minute after a foul on Roberto Fernández, and Spain took firmer control from there before Pubill added the second goal in stoppage time.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 8 outlets. How we work →