Overview
Spain have been in fine form since winning the EURO 2024 title. In Group 4 of League A, La Roja are comfortably at the top with 7 points after 3 matches. The only blemish on Luis de la Fuente's unbeaten run was a 0-0 draw in Serbia.
It was the only match Spain have failed to win since March 2024. Therefore, they are eager to make amends when they play Serbia again.
Serbia are also doing quite well in this year's Nations League. They are the only team in the group to have taken a point against Spain. In their most recent match, Serbia defeated Switzerland 2-0 to consolidate their third place.
This is a safe position for them to stay in League A. Serbia did not aim to go too far in the Nations League, so this result can satisfy them.
Overall, Serbia will be in the most comfortable mood when traveling to Spain. Against a La Roja team in high form, Serbia will definitely take the initiative to play defensive counter-attacks.
However, unlike the first leg, where they had the support of their home fans, playing in Spain will have a very different pressure. Therefore, the task of gaining points against Serbia will be much more difficult.
Spain and Serbia met in a friendly in 2012, with La Roja winning 2-0. In the first leg of this season's Nations League, the two teams drew 0-0.
Human resources situation
Spain have a number of unfortunate absences from this training camp due to injury. That list includes Dani Olmo, Rodri, Dani Carvajal and Nico Williams.
After the match with Denmark, Lamine Yamal also had to return to Barcelona with a suspected injury.
On the other side of the front line, Serbia is missing Vinja Milinkovic-Savic, Milos Veljkovic, Andrija Zivkovic, Ivan Ilic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic due to injury.
Expected lineup:
Spain: Raya, Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsi, Porro, Ruiz, Zubimendi, Oyarzabal, Pedri, Zaragoza, Morata.
Serbia: Raijkovic, Pavlovic, Milenkovic, Erakovic, Birmancevic, Grujic, Maksimovic, Nedeljkovic, Lukic, Samardzic, Mitrovic.
The match between Spain and Serbia takes place at 1:45 a.m. on October 16 (Vietnam time).
