Changing times? Spain thrashes Turkey 6-0 with only 3 starters from La Liga, while 4 hail from the Premier League.

Has Spanish football’s era changed? La Liga is declining while the Premier League is rising; the Premier League is now the leading league among the big five rather than La Liga! In the latest World Cup qualifier, Spain defeated Turkey 6-0 on the road,maintaining an unbeaten streak of 27 official matches! At present, the strongest two national teams are Spain and Argentina, both technical powerhouses and leading contenders for the 2026 USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup title.

Playing away against Turkey, De la Fuente deployed a 4-3-3 formation with Oyarzabal upfront, flanked by Nico and Yamal on the wings. Pedri, Suárez Mendi, and Merino formed the midfield trio, while Cucurella, Heisen, Llorente, and Boro made up the back four. Simon guarded the goal. The starting lineup’s total market value was €731 million, with an average age of 24.9 years.

Among Spain’s starting eleven, only three players come from the royal clubs (Real Madrid and Barcelona): Yamal and Pedri from Barcelona and Heisen from Real Madrid, who was just signed this summer from Premier League Bournemouth. By league, seven players are from La Liga and four from the Premier League, including Arsenal’s Suárez Mendi and Merino, Chelsea’s Cucurella, and Tottenham’s Boro—all members of the Premier League’s Big Six.

In my opinion, although only three starters against Turkey are from the royal clubs, they are all key figures: Pedri is the pivotal player and midfield core of this Spanish squad; Yamal provides an attacking spark, and Heisen leads the defense and orchestrates play from the back. It’s also worth noting that many Spanish players now choose to play in the Premier League because it offers higher salaries and more intense competition.