A wasteful Spain failed to give the defending champions a winning start to their UEFA Nations League campaign, as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Serbia in Belgrade.

It took a while for the game to come to life, but it finally happened deep into the first half when Nico Williams hit a shot over the bar and Ayoze Perez forced Predrag Rajkovic into a good save.

At the other end, Luka Jovic should have scored the first goal when he missed from close range before Veljko Birmancevic was denied by David Raya.

After the break, things continued in a similar way: Spain dominated the game and repeatedly created chances, but then lost momentum in the penalty area.

Lamine Yamal had the best chances to score but wasted several, while Williams and substitute Alex Grimaldo also failed to score, giving Serbia an impressive point.

It would be unfair to say that Alvaro Morata is Spain’s only goalscorer, but his absence through injury was felt as his team failed to put the ball in the net.

Lamine Yamal in particular had a few chances in the second half, but did not score often enough.

Even when goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic was tested, he did not come into his own and the visitors were left wondering what could have been, as they were far too wasteful in the final third.

The 28-year-old was certainly the more active of the two goalkeepers and fulfilled his task perfectly.

It’s fair to say the Serb will have tougher nights, but when he did come on, he made a number of saves, none better than the one against Ayoze Perez in the first half.

Finishing a game without conceding a goal against the Spanish team is no small feat and Rajkovic deserves a lot of credit for that, given his defensive performance.

SERBIA: Rajkovic 8; Pavlovic 7, Milenkovic 7, Erakovic 6; Nedeljkovic 7, Ivan Ilic 7, Lukic 6, Birmancevic 6; Samardzic 6, Jovic 5, Zikovic 6. Substitutes: Simic 6, Mitrovic k. A

SPAIN: Raya 6; Cucurella 6, Le Normand 6, Laporte 6, Carvajal 7; Fabian Ruiz 6, Zubimendi 6; Olmo 7, Yamal 7, Ayoze 6, Williams 6. Substitutes: Grimaldo 6, Oyarzabal 6, Pedri not available, Ferran Torres not available, Joselu not available

33′ PEREZ DENIED. A superb reaction from Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic keeps Ayoze Perez at bay as the striker’s first shot from near the penalty spot is deflected into the goal.

34′ WHAT! A! SITTER! Oh my God! Jovic has just missed a dream goal. The ball lands at him after a back pass from Andrija Zikovic. He is one-on-one on goal and somehow misses the target, shooting wide of the far post. They may live to regret that.

59′ NEDELJKOVIC MISSES THE GOAL. If it had gone in, it would have been a stunning goal. A remarkable counterattack from the Serbians, starting near their own box and involving some great one-on-one contact and multiple players. They worked their way into the Spanish half and then into the box, but Nedeljkovic was unable to test the goalkeeper.

76′ YAMAL SHOT SAVED. The young star tries again from a similar position in the penalty area. This time he tests Rajkovic, but the goalkeeper saves.

• Serbia has now gone four games without success and was eliminated from the 2024 European Championship without a win.
• Spain are now unbeaten in 16 competitive matches, including 13 wins