Spain’s Nations League Plans: Barcelona's Key Role
Luis de la Fuente’s plans for the UEFA Nations League are sharpening, and one thing is already clear: Barcelona will carry the weight of the national team again.
Midfield reshuffle: Fermin in, Gavi out (for now)
The first big tweak comes in midfield. Fermin Lopez is expected to step in for Gavi, who will miss Spain’s opener at Wembley through suspension. It’s a significant shift, not least because Gavi has also lost his starting spot at Barcelona after the injury he picked up at the start of La Liga against Elche.
That doesn’t mean he’s been pushed to the margins. De la Fuente rates Gavi extremely highly and refuses to close the door on him in any scenario. Once he’s fully available, the battle for those midfield places will be fierce.
Striker puzzle: one vacant seat
The real uncertainty lies up front. Compared with the squad that conquered the World Cup, there is one clear vacancy: the third striker.
Mikel Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres are locked in. Their tickets are booked. The debate starts with the role previously occupied by Borja Iglesias. The forward began the season carrying a soleus muscle problem and has barely featured, leaving his place under serious threat.
That gap has opened the door to a wave of young contenders. Sergio Camello, Roberto, Espi and Gonzalo are all pushing hard to break into the list of forwards. One of them could ride this window of opportunity straight into the senior setup.
Tight lists, heavy schedule
There is little room for error. Only 23 players can be registered for the group stage of the UEFA Nations League, a tighter limit than the 26 allowed in the final phase.
Even with that restriction, the expectation is that De la Fuente will widen the pool around the core group. Spain face four matches in a short burst, and rotation will not just be a luxury – it will be a necessity.
Barcelona backbone
At club level, Barcelona’s influence is unmistakable. The Catalan side is set to form the backbone of the national team once again.
Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Rodri and Lamine Yamal are all effectively guaranteed spots in the squad. Around them, the Barca contingent could grow even larger. Gavi and Fermin Lopez are in the frame, and Xavi Espart is also in contention.
If everything breaks their way, Spain could line up with as many as 10 Barcelona players in the group. That would be a statement about where the heart of this side truly beats.
A demanding start: Wembley and beyond
Spain’s Nations League journey begins under the arch. England await in London on 26 September, a high-profile opener that will test De la Fuente’s choices immediately.
From there, the schedule barely lets up. Croatia travel to Seville on the 29th, before Spain head to Oviedo to face the Czech Republic on 3 October. The window closes with another clash against Croatia, this time in Split, on 6 October.
Four games. One compressed window. A trimmed-down squad. And a national team leaning heavily on Barcelona’s core as it tries to set the tone for another campaign on the European stage.
