Spain go host Czechia for Nuevo Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo on Saturday. The match na La Roja third game for Group A3 of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League. Luis de la Fuente side don win both games so far. World champions dey lead group with six points.
Spain come from behind to beat England 3-2 for Wembley. Mikel Oyarzabal score for 74th minute. Dem then play more convincing game for Seville on Tuesday night. Lamine Yamal score twice as Spain take comfortable 4-1 win over Croatia. Marc Pubill also score, and Nico Williams complete scoring for 88th minute. Luis de la Fuente side now unbeaten for 40 matches.
Czechia sit bottom and still no point. Dem lose 2-1 at home to Croatia, then England beat dem 2-0 for Prague. Pavel Šulc collect red card for 25th minute for that England game, and e go miss this weekend. Santi Denia still dey chase him first win as coach after Croatia end him side unbeaten home record. Spain don win four of last five meetings between dem.
For press conference, Luis de la Fuente talk about withdrawals. E say the drawback of this format na say there is little time to recover. E say dem prioritize player health and prefer there to be a player in perfect condition. On goalkeeper, e talk say when dem talk about rotations, dem mean choosing players wey dey best form for match, for every position. Usually goalkeeper position remains more consistent, but there can be change for any position.
De la Fuente also face two coaches with ties: Santi Denia and Pablo Amo. E talk say dem just dey with them, and dem know each other very well. But e add say na footballers dey change matches, na dem dey give different feel. E say dem know how Spain play, but e no easy to defend against Spain and you always have to keep ace up your sleeve. E tok say he never tell them everything he knew.
On Lamine Yamal, de la Fuente talk say Spain go field most suitable team for tomorrow match. E say dem get am in mind, but tonight dem go give am final touches. If Yamal start from beginning, na because dem believe na when e fit be most influential. E say every day Yamal dey more mature, and e na pleasure to watch am. E come across as person wey dey accept any suggestion, and that na very good news.
About Spanish coaches, de la Fuente talk say na all result of training. You have to invest in footballers, but na good coaches dey train them well. Coaches dey increasingly better prepared, e tok.
On opponent, e talk say there are no easy matches. You have to be excellent for every match. E call Czechia very difficult opponent wey fit be trap for those wey no know them, but dem no go surprise Spain. E say plenty people go surprise when dem see them.
When dem ask about Cristiano case, de la Fuente talk say he no fit comment because he no get facts. E say every situation unique and unrepeatable.
For expected lineup, Spain suppose start Simón, Pubill, Laporte, Cubarsí, Cucurella, Fabián, Rodri, Pedri, Yamal, Oyarzabal, Williams. Czechia expected lineup na Horníček, Coufal, Hranáč, Chaloupek, Sláma, Sadílek, Červ, Ambros, Karabec, Černý, Hložek. BBC lineup info show Luis de la Fuente formation as 4-2-3-1 and Santi Denia formation as 4-3-3. Lineups dey announced and players dey warm up.
Spain dey play at higher level than most European nations right now. Dem stroll past Croatia by three-goal margin for Seville on Tuesday. Croatia had been unbeaten in five competitive away games before that fixture. Czechia may not pose same threat as Croatia. Dem still dey find dem feet under new manager and don lose both Group A3 matches. With no point, task tough for Czechia without suspended Šulc, wey dem send off against England. Denia also dey ask him team to play more expansive style rather than relying so heavily on set-pieces. That approach fit attract criticism from Spanish press. Lamine Yamal alone can cause problems for back four wey stretch like this.
Games involving Czechia continue to clear over 2.5 goals line more often than not. E happen for five of dem last seven matches. But dem draw blank against England on Tuesday. England closer match for Spain in terms of quality. Czechia weakened by absence of key playmaker Šulc, wey suspended. Their goal threat already limited. Šulc absence make their attacking problems worse. Czechia don draw blanks for two of last three games, against Mexico and England. Spain defence vulnerable of late, concede twice for Wembley and once to Croatia. But Czechia go struggle to breach them for Oviedo. Spain start matches at high tempo under de la Fuente. Both Group A3 Nations League matches so far produce three first-half goals. Yamal score inside two minutes for both matches. That na remarkable pattern for first-half market. Spain put opponents under pressure immediately, and Czechia go struggle to cope. Czechia also concede first for both group games. Spain go want this finished long before hour mark. Atmosphere for Oviedo suppose lively from kick-off.
