Czech Republic v Spain LIVE: Top spot in the UEFA Nations League Group A2 as Gavi's first goal for Spain gets La Roja level before the Czech Republic take the lead through a magnificent Jan Kuchta goal.

Spain's number nine drifts beautifully past a Czech defender and plays a hard pass into Dani Olmo in the box but swarming defenders stop him from getting a shot away.

Spain's left-back looks to dribble down the touchline but his control lets him down and he runs it out of play.

Dani Carvajal is forced to hook his clearance out of play deep in his own half as the Czechs suddenly chase a long punt and press collectively.

But Spain are able to win the ball back and play out of danger.

The young Spain and Barcelona creator receives possession close to the Czech goal but goes down theatrically under pressure, looking for a free-kick but the referee waves play on.

Both before and since the goal, the Czechs are willingly dropping deep and conceding most of the pitch to Spain but they are attacking the ball carrier aggressively when the Spanish try to enter the final third.

They're looking to force turnovers and spring counters and that's exactly how they got their opening goal.

After a quick review, the video assistant declines to overturn the on-pitch decision and the goal stands. 1-0 to the Czechs.

Spain are blown apart on the counter attack. Sloppy defending from Eric Garcia plays three Czech forwards onside.

Jan Kuchta races onto the through-ball and squares to give Jakub Pesek a tap-in.

As expected, Spain are controlling the ball here. La Roja are just shuffling the ball around the flanks and backline, looking for openings.

The Czechs are sitting deep and packing the middle of the pitch.

After the Czechs' corner bounces around the box for what seems like an age, Spain eventually get things under control and play the ball out of their end.

The Czechs get us underway and immediately race down the pitch and win a corner.

Both teams are lined up on the pitch alongside some tiny mascots. That can only mean one thing, kick off is almost upon us.

The Stadion Eden hosts tonight's match, but it is far from Prague's biggest football stadium.

That honour goes to the Great Strahov Stadium - capacity 250,000 - built during the Soviet period. It was one of the largest stadiums ever built and is now a training venue for Sparta Prague.

Both sides face a packed schedule in this summer international period.

Spain are away to Switzerland on Thursday and host the return fixture of tonight's match next Sunday.

For the Czechs, it's Portugal away on Thursday before the rematch with Spain on Sunday evening.

For both sides, four matches in ten days.

These two nations last faced off in international football in a Group D match at Euro 2016.

Pique got the winner three minutes from time after a dominant display from La Roja.

West Ham's midfield sentinel captains his country tonight and wins his 50th cap. Will he celebrate with a victory?

Premier League duo Aymeric Laporte and Thiago Alcantara are unavailable for selection this evening, while Barcelona's Pedri is also injured.

Spain and Juventus striker Alvaro Morata has an excellent goal scoring record for his country. He's already scored 26 in his 53 caps but another goal tonight would lift him level with Fernando Morientes for the sixth-most goals in Spanish history.

The Czech Republic were promoted to League A for this edition of the Nations League, topping a group also featuring Slovakia, Scotland and Israel in 2020-21.

Their debut this time around was a 2-1 win over Switzerland on Thursday evening.

Jan Kuchta scored the opener while Jakub Jankto forced a winning own goal with his 58th-minute cross.

Spain kicked off their Nations League campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Portugal. Alvaro Morata scored the opener for Spain - his 26th goal for his country - but finds himself on the bench tonight.

Spain's previous action in 2022 was a pair of friendly wins over Albania and Iceland, 2-1 and 5-0 respectively.

Czech Rep: Vaclik, Mateju, Brabec, Zima, Soucek, Sadilek, Zeleny, Coufal, Lingr, Kuchta, Pesek. Subs: Kalvach, Hlozek, Stanek, Cerny, Mandous, Kudela, Vlkanova, Havel, Kral, Jankto, Jemelka, Jurecka.

Spain: Simon, Alonso, Martinez, Garcia, Carvajal, Rodri, Koke, Gavi, Olmo, Sarabia, De Tomas. Subs: Morata, Torres, Sanchez, Soler, Asensio, Llorente, Alba, Torres, Raya, Llorente, Busquets, Azpilicueta

These two sides have met five times since the Czech Republic's debut on the international football scene in 1994.

The Czechs are yet to register a win and, in fact, have lost their last four matches against La Roja.

Against the former Czechoslovakia, Spain's record wasn't nearly as strong. The 2010 World Champions lost seven times and won just four.