Spain vs Czechia: De la Fuente weighs up Lamine Yamal's starting role in Nations League clash
On Saturday, 3 October, Spain host Czechia in Oviedo in a UEFA Nations League League A Group 3 fixture, with the dominant hosts chasing another win while bottom-placed Czechia try to avoid a further defeat.
Match basics
The game is being played at Estadio Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo and is the third of four fixtures between Spain and Czechia during this international window. Spain are managed by Luis de la Fuente, who sets up in a 4-2-3-1, while Czechia are coached by Santi Denia using a 4-3-3. The match is refereed by Greece's Vasilis Fotias, with Angelos Evangelou as VAR (BBC, Sports Illustrated).
Spain extending a remarkable run
Spain have won each of their last five matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding four. In this Nations League window they have already beaten England 3-2 and Croatia 4-1, and the team remains unbeaten in 40 consecutive matches in 90 minutes (Sports Illustrated). Before the international break, according to Goal.com, Spain won the 2026 World Cup held in North America, beating Argentina, France and Belgium in the knockout stages.
Czechia struggling at the bottom
Czechia have picked up only one point from their last five games, a 1-1 draw with South Africa at the World Cup. Under new manager Santi Denia, they have lost both of their Nations League matches so far, 0-2 to England and 1-2 to Croatia. In the group standings, Spain lead with six points from two games, followed by England on six points from three games and Croatia on three points, while Czechia sit bottom without a point and face the risk of relegation play-offs (Goal.com).
Will Yamal start again?
Much of the pre-match attention has centred on Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, who has started both of Spain's matches in this window, scoring three goals and providing one assist. Manager de la Fuente declined to confirm at his pre-match press conference whether Yamal would start again against Czechia, saying the final lineup would be decided the night before the game and praising the player's growing maturity both on and off the pitch (Barca Blaugranes).
Head-to-head record
In their last five meetings, Spain have won three times and drawn once, while Czechia have yet to record a win in that span. The two sides last met in the Nations League in June 2022, when Spain won 2-0, while the earlier fixture that same month in Prague ended 2-2 (Goal.com).
What's next
After facing Czechia, both teams have one more fixture in this international window: Spain travel to Croatia on Tuesday, 6 October, while Czechia host England on the same day.
