From Seville to the Balkans, Atlético de Madrid’s internationals came through Tuesday night with victories to take back to the club. Spain beat Croatia 4-1 at the Sánchez Pizjuán, where Pubill and Baena started, while David Hancko and Jan Oblak played decisive parts for Slovakia and Slovenia respectively.
Hancko settles Slovakia’s night
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Slovakia were level with Kazakhstan deep into their 2-1 win when Hancko arrived from the left side of defence.
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In the 82nd minute, Ondrej Duda’s corner found the Atlético player, who headed in the winning goal.
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Hancko was used at left-back, the role he commonly fills for his national team, and completed a strong individual display with the late winner.
The goal was Hancko’s eighth for Slovakia in 61 international appearances. It also ended a scoring wait of more than six months: his previous strike came on 18 March, in the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Tottenham in London.
Oblak extends his clean-sheet run
Slovenia meanwhile overcame North Macedonia 2-0, with Oblak largely untroubled. The goalkeeper made only one save, but it was enough to secure another shutout for his country.
It was Slovenia’s second consecutive clean sheet after their previous match against Scotland. Oblak has now conceded just once across his last five appearances. His recent sequence includes league clean sheets against Real Sociedad and Osasuna, one late goal conceded in the derby, and the two scoreless international outings that followed.
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Oblak kept out Real Sociedad.
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He followed that with another clean sheet against Osasuna.
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Only a late derby goal broke the run during that five-match spell.
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Scotland then failed to score against Slovenia.
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North Macedonia were also kept out on Tuesday.
Slovenia face a sharper examination on Saturday away to Switzerland, who have won both of their matches so far, scoring six times without conceding.
