Croatia vs Spain Lineups, Prediction, Betting Tips & Odds

Croatia vs Spain Match Summary

Croatia host Spain at Stadion Poljud in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday night. The home side badly need a response, and the visitors arrive with their campaign spotless.

Croatia arrive bruised after Saturday's 7-0 home hammering by England. The market isn't buying a turnaround either, with Betfair Sportsbook offering 10/1 for a home win.

Spain come in as world champions with a flawless start to their Nations League campaign, and Luis De La Fuente's side carry every bit of the expectation into this one.

The head-to-head points the same way: Spain have won four of the previous meetings between the two nations. Croatia's real comfort is a home crowd demanding a reaction.

Croatia vs Spain Form

Form is hard to find for Croatia right now. England took them apart 7-0 on home soil on Saturday, and Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both helped themselves to braces. That makes it three defeats in their last four internationals, so Modric and Kovacic have a massive job steadying the engine room.

Spain are purring. They beat Czechia 3-1 on home soil last time out to keep their Nations League campaign perfect, and they've found the net heavily doing it: three goals or more has become the norm for this side. Lamine Yamal on the right is the man Croatia must stop.

Croatia vs Spain Lineups & Team News

Injuries & Suspensions

Croatia: J. Juranovic (Injured/out), M. Erlic (Injured/out)

Spain: J. García (Injured/out), E. García (Injured/out), P. Porro (Injured/out), A. Grimaldo (Injured/out), F. Torres (Injured/out), N. Williams (Injured/doubtful)

Croatia

Slaven Bilic will make changes after the heavy defeat to England, and Nikola Vlasic, Igor Matanovic and Josip Sutalo are expected to start. Juranovic and Erlic are both injured, so the Croatia vs Spain lineups have Sutalo at right-back.

Spain

Ferran Torres has left the camp with an ankle injury and misses out, and Carlos Espi has been called up to replace him in the squad. Mikel Merino, Pau Cubarsí and Marc Cucurella are among those likely to start, while Nico Williams is a doubt.

Croatia vs Spain Predicted Lineup

Croatia

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Starting Lineup: D. Livakovic, I. Perisic, J. Gvardiol, L. Vuskovic, J. Sutalo, L. Modric, M. Kovacic, N. Vlasic, P. Sucic, L. Sucic, I. Matanovic

Spain

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Starting Lineup: U. Simón, M. Cucurella, D. Huijsen, P. Cubarsí, M. Pubill, Pedri, Rodri, Á. Baena, M. Merino, L. Yamal, M. Oyarzabal

Croatia vs Spain Key Stats & Match Facts

• There have been 5+ goals scored in 3 of the last 3 meetings between Croatia and Spain (UEFA Nations League A).
• Spain have had 15+ shots in 3 of their last 3 matches (UEFA Nations League A).
• Lamine Yamal has scored in 3 of his last 3 appearances (UEFA Nations League A).
• Ivan Perisic has assisted in 2 of his last 3 appearances against Spain (UEFA Nations League A).
• Croatia have received 2+ cards in 3 of their last 3 matches against Spain (UEFA Nations League A).

Croatia vs Spain Prediction & Best Bets

Our prediction: Croatia 1-3 Spain. Our Croatia vs Spain prediction backs the visitors firmly, because Rodri and Pedri can boss the engine room and Croatia's back line hasn't recovered from Saturday. Spain are 3/10 with Ladbrokes, which is too short to back on its own, so the value lies in the goals markets.

Best Bets

Over 3.5 Goals Our projected scoreline already clears this line, and this fixture has a habit of producing goals at both ends: Croatia have seen over 2.5 goals in the majority of recent meetings with Spain across all competitions. With the home defence this fragile, the goals market is where the Croatia vs Spain best bets start.

Both Teams To Score: Yes Spain's goals aren't the worry here. The question is whether Croatia land a blow, and with Perisic's delivery from the left, P. Sucic pulling the strings and a crowd demanding a response, we think the home side get on the board.

Croatia vs Spain Bet Builder

Our Croatia vs Spain bet builder tips are built around Spain's attack, with three legs: Lamine Yamal to score anytime, Spain over 2.5 away goals and Alex Baena to register an assist.

Lamine Yamal has found the net in each of his last three outings for the national side, and he lines up on the right against a Croatia defence still reeling from Saturday.

Spain have been banging in three-plus goals as a matter of routine of late. Croatia were carved open at home on Saturday, so three away goals is a fair ask.

Alex Baena has chipped in with assists at a healthy clip recently, and from the left he has Oyarzabal and Yamal to pick out.

All three legs tell the same story: Spain on the front foot, creating and finishing, which is exactly how we see this fixture going.

At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 11/2 and is as short as 4/1 elsewhere. That's a healthy gap from best to worst price, so it pays to compare before placing it.

Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.

Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.

Croatia vs Spain Talking Points

The flank to watch is Lamine Yamal against Ivan Perisic. Perisic is a menace going forward, but at left-back he will spend long spells defending against Spain's most dangerous attacker, and that is where the away side will try to break Croatia. In the middle, Modric and Kovacic against Rodri and Pedri is a proper engine room scrap, and Croatia need to hold their own there to stay in the game. Spain are without Porro and Grimaldo, which hands the full-back jobs to Pubill and Cucurella, but their attack has barely missed a beat: the visitors have found the net at least twice in the clear majority of their recent outings against this opponent in all competitions.

Croatia vs Spain Predictions FAQs

When is the Croatia vs Spain UEFA Nations League game?

The match is scheduled for Tuesday 6 October 2026, kicking off at 20:45 SAST.

Where is Croatia vs Spain being played?

The match is being played at Stadion Poljud.

What are the predicted lineups for Croatia vs Spain?

Croatia are expected to start Livakovic, Perisic, Gvardiol, Vuskovic, Sutalo, Modric, Kovacic, Vlasic, P. Sucic, L. Sucic and Matanovic. Spain are projected to line up with Simón, Cucurella, Huijsen, Cubarsí, Pubill, Pedri, Rodri, Baena, Merino, Yamal and Oyarzabal.

What is the team news for Croatia vs Spain?

Croatia will be without injured duo Josip Juranovic and Martin Erlic. Spain are missing Ferran Torres, Joan García, Eric García, Pedro Porro and Alejandro Grimaldo through injury, while Nico Williams is rated doubtful.

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