Spain beat ten-man Czechia 2-0 with Álex Baena’s penalty and a stoppage-time goal from Marc Pubill, while Belgium came from behind to win 2-1 in Türkiye through Kevin De Bruyne and Charles De Ketelaere, setting up a decider with Italy on Sunday.
Prague, Czechia: Two favourites had to work for their wins in the Nations League on Thursday. Spain needed a penalty and a goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time to beat ten-man Czechia, while Belgium conceded a stunning free-kick in Izmir and then scored twice in three minutes to turn the match around.
Spain survive a nervy night in Prague
Spain won a first-half penalty and Álex Baena converted it in the 39th minute. Czechia’s task became harder when Ladislav Krejčí was sent off in the 72nd minute, but VAR ruled out a Yéremy Pino goal for offside after the break and the hosts had chances to equalise. They could not take them. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Marc Pubill won the ball back inside Czechia’s half as the hosts tried to play out and rolled it past goalkeeper Matěj Kovář into the bottom corner.
It was Spain’s fifth win in five Group A3 matches. They have 15 points, three clear of England, and they will welcome Lamine Yamal back for Sunday’s meeting in Madrid. Earlier in the campaign Spain had come from behind to beat Croatia 2-1, while Czechia were beaten 3-0 by England at Wembley last month.
Belgium turn it round in Izmir
Türkiye, playing their first match under new coach Sergen Yalçın, went ahead in the 20th minute when Arda Güler curled a free-kick from about 30 yards around the wall and into the top-left corner. The lead lasted seven minutes. Jérémy Doku beat Oğuz Aydın on the left and crossed, and Kevin De Bruyne finished first time high into the net. Nicolas Raskin then pounced on a loose ball and found Maxim De Cuyper, whose second attempted cutback reached Charles De Ketelaere for a tap-in in the 30th minute.
Belgium protected the lead through the second half, and Türkiye’s late pressure produced saved and blocked efforts but no goal. The result completed a double over Türkiye, whom Belgium beat 3-0 in Liège on 2 October. Belgium had also lost 4-1 to France in the same group last month.
Two groups, two games to go
In Group A1, Italy and France are on 10 points after Italy’s 3-1 win in Milan, with Belgium a point behind on nine. Belgium host Italy on Sunday in a decisive final round, while France play Türkiye in Bordeaux. In Group A3, Spain lead England by three points, with the two sides meeting in Madrid on Sunday.
Czechia 0 Spain 2 (Baena 39’ pen., Pubill 90+6’) — League A Group 3, Prague. Krejčí (Czechia) sent off, 72’.
Türkiye 1 Belgium 2 (Güler 20’; De Bruyne 27’, De Ketelaere 30’) — League A Group 1, Izmir.
Group A3: Spain 15 points, England 12. Group A1: Italy 10, France 10, Belgium 9, Türkiye 0.
