Mikel Oyarzabal's Brace Gives Spain a 2-0 First Half Lead Against Serbia

Spain kicked off their 2026 international calendar by hosting Serbia in a friendly match at La Ceramica. Luis de la Fuente’s squad was originally slated to face Argentina in La Finalissima on this date, but the fixture was canceled due to an inability to agree on a venue, prompting a swift rearrangement for this new encounter.

Nevertheless, the match against Serbia provides an important test for Spain as they look ahead to the 2026 World Cup, a tournament where they are considered among the favorites. The start in Vila-Real has been promising for La Roja, who hold a comfortable 1-0 lead at the halftime interval.

The opening goal came in the 16th minute, scored by Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal. The 28-year-old forward, who has showcased unstoppable form on the international stage over the past year, expertly struck the ball past Serbia’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic after receiving a clever pass from Fermin Lopez.

This was a well-executed goal by La Roja, with former Villarreal playmaker Alex Baena playing a significant role. His excellent dummy on his old home ground created the crucial space for Oyarzabal to unleash his shot and put Spain ahead.

Just before the break, Spain extended their lead to 2-0, with Oyarzabal bagging his second goal of the evening. Another Barcelona player contributed to the goal, as Pau Cubarsi delivered a superb ball into the path of his La Roja teammate. Oyarzabal then skillfully turned and fired an unstoppable effort from just outside the penalty area.

Spain Poised for Another Victory

It has been two years since Spain last suffered a defeat within 90 minutes, a friendly loss against Colombia. They are now on track to extend this impressive unbeaten streak, as Serbia faces a daunting challenge to recover in the second half.