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In the final game of the September and October international break, Croatia and Spain will square off in Nations League action in Split on Tuesday.
The visitors have won all three of their games so far this break in a perfect start to their campaign in group A3, while their hosts have lost their last two matches including the reverse fixture in Spain.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Croatia vs. Spain key stats
- Croatia have conceded 11 goals in their last two Nations League games.
- Spain have won the last four H2Hs, most recently in the Nations League reverse fixture in September.
- Spain have won their last 10 games in all competitions and are unbeaten in their last 21.
- Spain only conceded one goal in eight matches at the 2026 World Cup.
Croatia vs. Spain preview: Spain to conclude perfect Nations League start
Croatia vs Spain — Tale of the Tape
| Croatia | vs | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Position | 1st |
| 3 | Points | 9 |
| 3 | Goals For | 10 |
| 12 | Goals Against | 4 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 0 |
| 1st (H) | Home / Away Rank | 3rd (A) |
Croatia head into their final game of the international break aiming to avenge consecutive Nations League defeats and end their run of fixtures on a high.
They came into the new Nations League campaign in group A3 on the back of the 2026 World Cup, in which they finished second in their group only to suffer a round-of-32 defeat, and faced a tough group alongside England, Spain and Czech Republic.
The Vatreni have now played each team once, firstly beating Czech Republic 2-1 away from home, before visiting Spain in late September and losing 4-1 and suffering a 7-0 beating at home to England on Saturday, trailing by four at the break before Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka completed braces either side of the hour mark and Morgan Rogers added a seventh late on.
They came into the opening international break of the new campaign with a strong and experienced squad, headlined by the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic, including eight players aged 31 years old or more, but they have found it tough thus far, conceding 11 goals in two games against the group's strongest nations.
They will now aim to bounce back from those losses and get a win of their own over Spain after the defeat in the prior meeting made it four H2H defeats in a row.
Their visitors, meanwhile, will aim to continue a perfect record in the 2026-27 Nations League campaign and a winning streak dating back to a triumphant World Cup.
After finishing as runners-up in the 2024-25 Nations League, Spain have gone unbeaten in 21 matches, firstly cruising through World Cup qualifying before winning the tournament in USA Mexico and Canada, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final and only conceding one goal along the way.
La Roja have picked up where they left off in the September and October break, kicking off in the Nations League by beating England 3-2 at Wembley Stadium before hosting Croatia and winning 4-1 thanks to Lamine Yamal's brace and goals from Marc Pubill and Nico Williams.
Czech Republic then visited on Saturday, and Luis de la Fuente's men continued their winning streak, prevailing as 3-1 victors with Yamal, Rodri and Mikel Merino on the scoresheet.
Likely to make a couple of rotations, and with a strong squad at their disposal with the likes of Yamal, Rodri and Alex Baena starring and Pubill, Marc Cucurella and Pau Cubarsi competing to return from the start, Spain will hope to complete a Nations League double over Croatia and cement themselves atop the group to continue their memorable hot streak.
Croatia vs. Spain form guide & betting tips
| Croatia | vs | Spain |
|---|---|---|
WLWLL |
Form | WWWWW |
| 6 | Goals For | 13 |
| 15 | Goals Against | 4 |
WLL |
Nations League | WWW |
Whispers predicts: Croatia 1-4 Spain
Spain have scored three or more goals in each of their Nations League matches so far this campaign, including the reverse fixture, but are yet to keep a clean sheet in three games, while the hosts are wounded having allowed 11 goals in their last two matches. We fancy over 3.5 goals at 1/1 (2.00).
La Roja have scored in the first half of eight of their last 10 matches and will fancy themselves to make a fast start in Croatia, while they may run away with the game in the second half as England were able to do against a home team lacking confidence at the weekend. Spain to score in both halves is priced at 4/5 (1.80).
Luis de la Fuente has rotated his Spain squad throughout their opening Nations League games thus far and should continue to do so. Mikel Merino is yet to start in any of their three matches and may be in line to come in on Tuesday, with the Arsenal man having scored 11 goals in his last 23 caps from midfield including one off the bench at the weekend. We fancy him as a longer shot to score anytime at 12/5 (3.40).
> Over 3.5 goals at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Possible
> Spain to score in both halves at 4/5 (1.80) | Likelihood: Probable
> Mikel Merino to score anytime at 12.5 (3.40) | Likelihood: Possible