Spain's national team beat Serbia 3-0 in a friendly at La Cerámica in Vila-real, with two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and one from debutant Víctor Muñoz. Coach Luis de la Fuente praised the Real Sociedad forward as a top player. The team displayed its strength en route to the 2026 World Cup.
Spain thrashed Serbia 3-0 in a friendly at La Cerámica stadium in Vila-real on Friday, a match that replaced the Finalissima against Argentina. Mikel Oyarzabal, Real Sociedad forward, opened the scoring with a goal after a team play involving Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, and Álex Baena, who let the ball pass between his legs. The second came from a Pau Cubarsí pass to the edge of the box, where Oyarzabal controlled, turned, and struck into the top corner.
In the 63rd minute, De la Fuente substituted Yamal for Víctor Muñoz of Osasuna, who debuted with a goal in the 72nd after a heel pass from Ferran Torres, finishing with the outside of his foot into the far post. Mosquera also debuted.
Luis de la Fuente praised Oyarzabal: “He does everything well. If someone asks me who could be a coach, it's Mikel Oyarzabal. He understands the game very well. He knows how to play between the lines, understands runs well. We struggle to recognize our own; if he were from another country, they'd be talking about a top player. And he is. He's from Gipuzkoa and Spanish”.
Oyarzabal has 11 goals and five assists in his last 10 games for Spain, no other player had scored or assisted in 10 consecutive matches. With 24 goals, he ranks among the Roja's top 10 all-time scorers. “I'm happy that the goals help the team and win,” the player said.
Víctor Muñoz said: “It's a matter of time with consistency and work”.
De la Fuente's team remains unbeaten in official matches for three years and showed total control against a Serbia that initially resisted with a compact defense under Veljko Paunovic.