Spain go dey aim make dem collect their third straight win for this 2026 World Cup qualification campaign as dem go host Georgia for home this Saturday.
La Roja don gather six points from two games, wey don keep dem top of Group E, three points clear of second-place Georgia wey don win one and lose one so far.
Match Preview
Spain don show say dem no dey play for Group E. Dem start with 3-0 win over Bulgaria on September 4, then three days later, dem scatter Turkey 6-0. With six points from six, dem dey control the group like king for throne.
Na dem be the clear favourite to finish top, and coach Luis de la Fuente go want make dem continue the momentum with two more wins against Georgia and Bulgaria before dem face Turkey and Georgia again for November.
Spain na current European champions after dem beat England for Euro 2024 final, and everybody still remember when dem lift the 2010 World Cup. But truth be say, the last three tournaments no sweet at all — dem crash out for group stage 2014, then round of 16 for both 2018 and 2022. So this time, dem dey hungry to redeem themselves come 2026.
Spain don win seven out of eight meetings with Georgia for all competitions, including the 4-1 demolition when both sides meet for Euro 2024 round of 16.
Georgia on their own don turn to small team wey no fear big name. For Euro 2024, dem shock plenty people as dem reach the last 16 for their first ever major tournament. Now, dem dey target their first-ever World Cup qualification. Paris Saint-Germain star boy Khvicha Kvaratskhelia na the main weapon for the team.
Dem begin their qualification journey with 3-2 loss to Turkey but bounce back sharply with 3-0 win over Bulgaria, wey don lift dem to second position for Group E — same points with Turkey and just three behind Spain. So this Saturday’s clash go big well-well.
Georgia only don beat Spain once before — na friendly back for June 2016. Since then, Spain don flog dem five straight times, including that 7-1 massacre for 2023 Euro qualifier. No be beans.
Form Guide
Spain World Cup Qualifying – Europe form: WW
Spain form (all competitions): DWWLWW
Georgia World Cup Qualifying – Europe form: LW
Georgia form (all competitions): WWWDLW
Team News
Dean Huijsen don withdraw from Spain squad because of calf injury, so Aymeric Laporte don collect call-up. But na long list of injury matter for Spain — Dani Carvajal, Rodri, Fermin Lopez, Gavi, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal all dey out.
Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo fit form the front three for Saturday, while Arsenal duo Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino go likely handle midfield. Pau Cubarsi and Pedro Porro go benefit from Carvajal and Huijsen absence, and Marc Cucurella go likely hold down the left-back spot.
For Georgia, good news be say Kvaratskhelia go dey available after small thigh injury wey hold am for PSG. Giorgi Chakvetadze no dey available because of injury, but no surprise go dey for the lineup — Liverpool keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and Villarreal’s Georges Mikautadze go lead the charge again.
Spain possible starting lineup:
Simon; Porro, Le Normand, Cubarsi, Cucurella; Pedri, Merino, Zubimendi; Olmo, Oyarzabal, F Torres
Georgia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Kakabadze, Kashia, Goglichidze, Azarovi; Gagnidze, Kochorashvili, Mekvabishvili; Davitashvili, Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia
Prediction
We say: Spain 2-1 Georgia
Spain go miss some key players, and Georgia no be team wey you just dismiss. But La Roja still get too much firepower, and even if e no go easy, dem go likely carry another three points for home come Saturday night.