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Ukraine 1-0 Spain: La Roja suffer first defeat in UEFA Nations League

Luis Enrique's side would have moved four points clear with a win on Tuesday

Adama formó parte del once titular de España / | AFP
Jordi Gil

Spain went down 1-0 to Ukraine on Tuesday as they suffered their first defeat in this season's UEFA Nations League. 

Tsygankov scored the winner in Kyiv in the 76th minute as Luis Enrique's side were made to pay for failing to take advantage of their superiority. 

La Roja remain top of their group after four games but missed the chance to open up a four-point lead over Germany. 

Instead, with two games to play they have seven points, one more than Germany and Ukraine and five more than Switzerland. 

Luis Enrique named Adama Traore and Ansu Fati in the same starting lineup for the first time in Kyiv, with Rodrigo Moreno playing through the middle. 

Adama was particularly lively on right but Spain went into the break goalless despite enjoying the lion's share of possession. 

A similar pattern followed in the second half and it seemed a matter of when not if Spain would open the scoring. 

Substitutes Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal both came close before Andriy Shevchenko's side struck on the break. 

Tsygankov was sent through the middle and with David de Gea in no man's land he produced a really tidy finish. 

 

Spain sent Sergio Ramos upfront in search of an equaliser that never came as they end the international break having scored just once in three games.