Game is over and the final score is Czech 0-2 Spain. Baena's penalty in the 1st half consolidated Spain's dominance and converted their attack into practical result. Yeremy Pino's wonderful kick, assisted by Unai Simon, was cancelled after the referee checked the VAR replay. Marc Pubill's clever shot from tackling with Czech's defender wrapped up the game.
Match Report:
The win leaves Spain unbeaten in 44 competitive games in a row, including five wins in as many Nations League games this season.
Spain, who already secured a quarter-final berth before travelling to Prague, will face England in Madrid on Sunday in their final Group A3 game.
Baena scored on 39 minutes after a VAR check revealed Czech midfielder Lukas Ambros had handled the ball inside the box.
The Atletico Madrid winger blasted his spot kick past Matej Kovar who touched the ball but failed to clear it.
Czech captain Ladislav Krejci was sent off in the 69th minute after bringing down second-half substitute Roberto Fernandez on a counter-attack.
It was a deja-vu for the Wolverhampton defender who also got a red card at the end of Spain's 3-1 home win over the Czechs last month.
Pubill, another substitute, beat Kovar with a low shot deep into stoppage time after the Czech back four left him alone facing the Eindhoven goalkeeper.
Luis de la Fuentes missed Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Rodri and Eric Garcia over injuries while Mikel Oyarzabal was sidelined with flu for the Prague game.
Spain got off to a slow start on the chilly evening but never really let the hosts get close throughout the first half.
They gradually stepped up their pressure, often confining the Czechs to their box and looking for chances.
Fabian Ruiz hit the post with a curling right-footer three minutes from halftime, while Dean Huijsen's header found Kovar's arms.
Yeremy Pino, replacing Yamal on the right flank, saw his goal overturned by VAR for offside just two minutes into the second half.
The Czechs showed higher spirits after the break, but David Zima tipped the ball over the bar from close range on 50 minutes and Adam Hlozek's glancing header landed on the top of the crossbar.
The Czechs lost momentum after the red card, but Baena had two efforts cleared by Kovar who also denied Fernandez from close range.
The hosts, led by de la Fuente's long-time collaborator Santi Denia, have lost all their Nations League games this season.
They are next travelling to Croatia for a game they need to win to stay in the top tier of the competititon for the next edition.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
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39' Penalty Goal! Czech 0-1 Spain (Álex Baena)
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70' Red Card! Ladislav Krejci sent off
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76' Match Event for Czech vs Spain
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Line-ups
Czech XI: Vladimír Coufal, Lukas Provod, Ladislav Krejci, Alex Král, Kovar, David Zima, Adam Hlozek, David Jurásek, Lukas Cerv, Lukas Ambros, Ryan Naderi
Subs: Soucek, Jiri Slama, Tomas Vlcek, Lukas Hornicek, Martin Subert, Krystof Danek, Kinsky, Christophe Kabongo, David Kozel, Adam Gabriel, Stepan Chaloupek, Idris Hopi
Spain XI: Unai Simón, Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres, Martín Zubimendi, Álex Baena, Porro, Yeremy, Fermín López, Dean Huijsen, Cubarsi
Subs: Grimaldo, David Raya, Merino, Roca, Jorge de Frutos, Pedri, Joan García, Marc Pubill, Roberto Fernández, Barrios, Víctor Muñoz, Jacobo Ramón
Brightonen
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