Spain vs Croatia prediction: team news, lineups, expert analysis
UEFA Nations League A
On September 29, 2026, Spain and Croatia will face each other in the second round of League A of the UEFA Nations League.
Spain vs Croatia: team news and expert analysis
Spain only missed out on the Nations League title in the previous edition under de la Fuente, losing in the final. More importantly, over the summer they added a World Cup triumph to their status as European champions, once again doing so in emphatic fashion: they failed to score and, accordingly, failed to win only against Cape Verde! Now, in England, they managed to win 3-2 in an incredibly entertaining encounter.
Croatia somehow failed to reach the knockout stage at the Euros. They avoided a repeat of that failure at the World Cup, although they began with a defeat by England before going on to beat both Panama and Ghana. However, in the round of 32, after taking the lead against Portugal, they meekly lost 1-2. After that, Dalić left the managerial post, and Bilić returned to the job; Croatia still managed to beat the Czech Republic 2-1.
The champions score two goals per game while conceding just 0.4 on average. Modrić and company maintain the balance: 1.6 goals scored and 1.7 conceded.
Previous matches: Spain vs Croatia
Spain have progressed three times in a row: once on penalties, once after extra time, and at Euro 2024 the future champions won 3-0.
The home side are noticeably stronger. We are backing them to win with a handicap of "-1.5 goals" (odds – 1.60).
Spain vs Croatia: key statistics and trends
- Spain have won nine of their last ten matches, including a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina
- 30% of Spain's matches end with both teams scoring, and the average total goals per match is 2.4
- Croatia have won four of their last six matches
- 80% of Croatia's matches end with both teams scoring, and the average total goals per match is 3.3
Spain vs Croatia: possible starting lineups
Spain play in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (possible lineup): Simón - Pubill, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella - Rodri, Fabián - Olmo, Yamal, Williams - Ferran Torres
Croatia play in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (possible lineup): Livaković - Stanišić, Vušković, Gvardiol, Perišić - Modrić, Kovačić - Luka Sučić, Petar Sučić, Ivanović - Matanović
Follow the UEFA Nations League standings and learn about your team's form before placing a bet on the next match
