Brief

Mikel Merino scores brace as Spain beat Croatia 2‑1 to keep Nations League perfect start

Merino's second‑half strike equalised before he finished the game, while Croatia's Ivan Perisic was sent off with ten minutes left.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:35:01 GMT

Spain defeated Croatia 2‑1 on Tuesday in a UEFA Nations League group match, with midfielder Mikel Merino scoring both goals, according to Al Jazeera. The win preserved Spain’s 100 percent record in the group stage and moved them three points clear of England at the top of Group A3.

What happened

Ivan Perisic gave the hosts an early lead before Merino equalised shortly after the break. Merino then added a second goal later in the second half, securing the victory. Perisic received a second yellow card and was dismissed with ten minutes remaining, leaving Croatia with ten men.

What the reports add

Al Jazeera noted that the result gave Spain their 42nd consecutive game without defeat and highlighted the impact of Merino’s late finish. The Guardian’s live‑blog mentioned that a Spanish win would guarantee quarter‑final qualification, provided England avoided defeat elsewhere, and quoted Croatia captain Luka Modrić reflecting on the loss.

What was said

"Everyone knew": Croatia’s Luka Modrić told The Guardian, expressing disappointment over the defeat and urging fans to support the team despite the result.

How it came about

Spain entered the match with a squad announced from Ceuta amid a migration crisis, as reported by Felo News on 18 September (Spain names Nations League squad in Ceuta). Their unbeaten run had been built on earlier victories, including a 3‑2 win over England on 26 September (Spain beat England 3‑2). The group also featured England’s recent behind‑closed‑doors match against Croatia on 3 October (England face Croatia behind closed doors), setting the stage for Spain’s decisive encounter.

Key facts

Mikel Merino scored two goals for Spain in a 2‑1 win over Croatia. (aljazeera.com)
Ivan Perisic opened scoring for Croatia before being sent off with ten minutes left. (aljazeera.com)
The victory kept Spain unbeaten for 42 consecutive games and placed them three points ahead of England in Group A3. (aljazeera.com)
Luka Modrić commented on Croatia’s defeat, urging fan support. (theguardian.com)