Serbia held Euro 2024 and Nations League holders Spain to a goalless draw to open the 2024/2025 edition of the competition.
The European champions shone first in contest, mocking Serbia in Thursday's opening stages.
Despite their wealth of time on the ball, Spanish opportunities were surmounted by Serbia's defensive set-up -- who came solely to frustrate La Selección.
In all of their effort, La Roja were not able to bust open the Serbian defence; a stalemate the end result.
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Story of the match
A lack of Aleksander Mitrovic and Mihailo Ivanovic through injury led Dragan Stojkovic to the selection of Luka Jovic up front on Thursday night.
The coach's back three remained despite Serbia's Euro struggles. Strahinja Pavlovic, his namesake Erakovic and Nikola Milenkovic were the three selected.
Several injuries meant some names missing from Spain's Euro 2024 winning squad.
Martín Zubimendi was denied a reunion with former La Real partner Mikel Merino after the midfielder suffered a shoulder injury just days after departing San Sebastián for Arsenal.
Luis de la Fuente went with Ayoze Pérez as his striker, the forward shone in a pre-Euro friendly win over Andorra but only managed 12 minutes in the tournament.
La Roja ignited in Belgrade’s early stages — as though dawning their newly iconic yellow away shirt had transported them back to two months ago in Germany, their brilliant best pressed up to La Selección's high bar of great sides.
Spain played a satisfying first few minutes as European champions, well aware of a new-found golden status in their possesive arrogance.
Initially pegged back like the team that had evaded the summer’s knockout stages, Serbia showed their teeth with a rye Lazar Samardzic cannonball.
The home side had their work cut out against De la Fuente, the Balkan back five pulled out every last trick to put a stop to the visitors, but the odd flurry in the Spanish half was all that could excite Belgrade in the early openings.
Without regular frontman Alvaro Morata to lead the line, Ayoze Perez, now of Villarreal was the attacking company of international football’s most frightening wing pairing; Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal on either side of the former Leicester City man.
The Nations League is not Spain’s most notable success of the last 18 months, perhaps not even breaching the top three with a Women’s World Cup win and Olympic gold in recent memory – but in a ruthless era of Spanish footballing dictatorship, the competition that remains without a host for next year’s finals will be firmly within their sights come next June, wherever it may be.
The first half was an idyllic showcase of the champions, but remained a goalless one through opening opportunities.
Spain’s best chance of the half arrived with Ayoze Pérez's peeling shot on the turn, finally breaking through a stubborn Serbian enforcement.
Real Madrid christened Luka Jovic snuck away from Spain’s backline moments later, the most difficult task was to stay onside but the striker managed to miss the blinding target of David Raya’s net - reminding onlooking Los Blancos supporters why they might not be feeling his absence.
Serbian joy has been at long last, a dry spell against greater nations has been evident since World Cup qualification in 2022. An unispiring Euro 2024 campaign saw them leave Germany bottom of Group C.
Promotion as it’s deemed, is still an aspect of the Nations League that feels out of place in international football. But having risen to League A Serbia have an opportunity to mix it with the big boys this month, writing the wrongs of the summer.
The Eagles nearly worried Spanish fans with another mere flirt with David Raya, Strahinja Pavlovic’s counter-attacking efforts were chucked away by Kosta Nedeljkovic, firing high and wide from a ridiculous angle.
Substitute Alejandro Grimaldo came close with a curling set piece, but forward efforts were becoming less promising for a dominant Spain.
Wide prowess was still clear, but a final say was required, Euro 2024 hero Mikel Oyarzabal, waiting hopefully by the center of the penalty area.
Mallorcan cult hero Predrag Rajokovic acted quickly to deny a familiar Lamie Yamal pearler with fifteen minutes to play, a hard-earned Group D point wthin the Eagles' reach.
After catching Nico Williams’ header, Rajkovic lathered himself onto the ball, dismissing the fact three points were still very much at stake.
Nedeljkovic’s effort and thoughts of a winner were in Serbian back mirrors as Spain piled on further attacking threat from the sidelines.
With European gold still a fond, and recent memory – struggling to break down Serbia in the Nations League looked a frustrating task for Spain, the pressure of this summer's success observable for the first time since Berlin in July.
Grimaldo’s cross was short, his next pass weak and the Euro honeymoon period is at an end for Spain. Minutes from dropping points to an immovable Serbia - Zubimendi gave up a needless foul in the bitterness of it all.
With the full-time whistle sounded, Spain opened their Nations League defence with a draw and Serbia savoured a point to begin League A life in the sun.
