Spain’s Nations League campaign retained its perfect shape in Split, where Mikel Merino turned a difficult night against Croatia into a 2-1 comeback victory with two goals, the second arriving in the 89th minute. Luis de la Fuente’s side have now won all four of their matches, but this was far from the controlled evening Spain had enjoyed elsewhere in the group: Croatia pressed fiercely, Ivan Perisic caused repeated danger and Unai Simón was required to keep the contest within reach before Merino decided it.
Croatia began with the aggression expected from a home side determined to unsettle Spain’s passing game. Simón was immediately busy, denying Josip Stanisic from close range before making another important save from Igor Matanovic. He could not prevent Perisic from scoring after reacting to Matanovic’s initial effort, however, and Spain were briefly exposed again when Aymeric Laporte lost possession in his own six-yard box under pressure from Nikola Vlasic. Simón rescued the situation with another sharp intervention.
The goalkeeper’s work did not end there. Perisic struck fiercely in the second half and Simón produced another outstanding stop with his foot, while Martin Zubimendi later made an error inside the area that could have punished Spain again. The Athletic Club goalkeeper’s reflexes ensured that Croatia’s strongest spell did not create an insurmountable deficit.
Spain gradually recovered control, with Pedri the central figure in their response. Surrounded by Croatian midfielders, he kept finding ways to carry and release the ball, combining industry with the clarity that Spain had initially lacked. His passing created one of Lamine Yamal’s best openings, while Pau Cubarsí also sent the Barcelona winger through with a superb delivery that should have produced more. Yamal, the only Spain player to start all four games and the only one to exceed 270 minutes in the competition, had scored quickly in each of his previous three appearances but could not add to his run in Split. Josko Gvardiol made the duel particularly demanding, and Yamal’s touch let him down when Cubarsí’s pass put him in a promising position.
Rodri had a difficult opening period as Croatia’s energy disrupted Spain’s usual rhythm, but improved after the break, regaining possession and linking more effectively with Pedri and Dani Olmo. His accuracy remained striking: he completed 85 of 89 passes, a 96% success rate. Olmo worked between the lines and was warmly received when substituted, though he missed two situations from which he is normally decisive. Álex Baena had little attacking influence before leaving at half-time after appearing to suffer a knock, while Mikel Oyarzabal was tightly marked and headed Laporte’s inviting cross straight at Dominik Livakovic.
Merino changes the night
De la Fuente’s solution was Merino, introduced at the interval with Spain trailing. The midfielder has become one of the manager’s most reliable sources of goals, whether starting or arriving from the bench, and he brought Spain level for his 14th international goal. Eight of those goals have come as a starter and seven as a substitute; his latest five have all arrived after being sent on.
His winner was the defining moment. In the 89th minute, Zubimendi supplied an excellent pass and Merino controlled while turning in the penalty area before firing into the net. It was a centre-forward’s piece of work from a player who once featured as a centre-back under Thomas Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund, and it completed Spain’s turnaround.
At the back, Marc Pubill endured an awkward moment on Perisic’s opening goal after trying to close the cross and leaving the route to goal available, but competed strongly in his duels with the Croatian winger. Cubarsí grew after an initially uncomfortable spell and made a vital headed clearance when Spain were pushing forward, while Laporte recovered from his early mistake to distribute confidently and create Oyarzabal’s headed chance, despite losing the ball late on in another dangerous moment. Marc Cucurella also settled after a testing start against Vlasic, became more prominent in attack and helped force Perisic’s second yellow card.
Fermín López added urgency after replacing Olmo and helped lead several threatening breaks. Víctor Muñoz was introduced as Spain chased the decisive goal, and Yeremy Pino entered shortly before Merino completed the comeback. Spain had needed every layer of their squad in Split, but the outcome was familiar: four Nations League matches, four victories, and another week in which Merino’s late intervention carried Spain through.
