Spain meet Croatia in Matchday 2 of the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League, yet Pedri won’t start for the world champions.
Luis de la Fuente has left Pedri on the bench for the Croatia clash, a move that isn’t entirely shocking.
Luis de la Fuente has periodically rotated Pedri out of Spain’s starting lineups during his managerial tenure, a purely tactical choice as the Barcelona midfielder remains fully fit.
Pedri has become a potent impact sub.
Reports suggest the manager prefers a different midfield balance, pairing anchors such as Rodri or Fabián Ruiz. In my view, rotating Pedri preserves his stamina for the tournament’s climax. Fans may have expected Pedri to start, but de la Fuente often opts for alternative duos.
Off the bench, Pedri consistently flips games, entering in the second half when La Roja need tighter possession and a creative spark in the final third.
For this fixture, de la Fuente lines up Fabián Ruiz, Martín Zubimendi, and Fermín López in midfield, giving him flexibility while easing player workloads during a tight international schedule.