Mixed fortunes for Atlético Madrid internationals during the break
Atlético Madrid's international players experienced contrasting outcomes over the break. Le Normand and Baena won with Spain, David impressed for Canada and Oblak fell to Switzerland despite a string of fine saves. None of them picked up any physical problems.
ByJavi
5 min read
The international break delivered mixed results for Atlético Madrid's players. Robin Le Normand and Álex Baena started in Spain's 3-1 victory over Czech Republic in Oviedo, Jonathan David helped Canada beat Peru, and Jan Oblak suffered defeat with Slovenia despite producing several outstanding saves. The most important takeaway for the club is that none of its internationals returned with any physical issues.
- Le Normand played the full 90 minutes and completed 99 accurate passes in a flawless display.
- Baena featured in the first half against Czech Republic before being substituted at the break to manage his workload.
- Jonathan David played 61 minutes and was directly involved in Canada's 2-0 win over Peru.
- Oblak made five fine saves against Switzerland but could not prevent Slovenia's 2-1 defeat.
- None of Atlético's internationals finished the break with any physical problems.
Le Normand anchors Spain in win over Czech Republic
Spain strengthened their grip on Nations League Group A3 with a 3-1 victory over Czech Republic at the Carlos Tartiere stadium. The match was quickly put on track by a fifth-minute goal from Lamine Yamal, and captain Rodri Hernández doubled the lead before half-time following a well-worked team move. Czech Republic pulled one back midway through the second half through Jiří Sláma, but Mikel Merino sealed the result late on after Krejčí was sent off for the visitors.
Robin Le Normand started and played the full 90 minutes alongside Aymeric Laporte in central defence. His performance was highly assured: he committed only one foul and was flawless in possession, completing 99 passes. The Atlético centre-back was rarely troubled and once again showed why he remains a key figure in Spain's set-up.
Baena plays lively first half before being rested
Álex Baena also started in Spain's midfield. The Almería-born attacker delivered a very active first half, registering three shots, one of them particularly dangerous for the Czech goal. His constant movement between the lines proved a valuable asset for Luis de la Fuente's side.
He was replaced by Fermín López at half-time in a move designed to manage his workload ahead of the upcoming fixtures. Baena left a positive impression during his 45 minutes and returns to Atlético without any physical setback.
Jonathan David drives Canada in friendly against Peru
Jonathan David played 61 minutes in Canada's 2-0 friendly win over Peru. The Atlético forward had a clear chance in the 17th minute, firing a shot that narrowly missed the post guarded by Diego Romero. His biggest impact came with a ball recovery in midfield that launched the vertical counter-attack leading to Canada's decisive second goal.
The Canadian striker once again showed his ability to link play and contribute beyond the box, a quality that has made him an important part of Atlético's attacking setup this season.
Oblak produces fine saves but suffers rare error against Switzerland
Jan Oblak experienced the less pleasant side of the break in Slovenia's Nations League fixture. The Slovenian captain suffered a 2-1 defeat in his visit to Switzerland, but his display was far from ordinary. The Atlético goalkeeper made five excellent saves that kept his side from a much heavier loss.
However, he was involved in an unfortunate moment in Switzerland's opening goal. A slow rebound off his own defender Erik Janža slipped through his hands right on the goal line, a rare error for a goalkeeper of his reliability. Despite the defeat, Oblak proved he remains Slovenia's main pillar on the biggest occasions.
What Atlético gain from their internationals returning fit
Atlético Madrid head back into club competition with the reassurance that none of their called-up players suffered physical setbacks. That is a crucial factor in a demanding schedule, with Diego Simeone's side needing all its resources to keep fighting for the season's objectives.
Le Normand and Oblak return with significant minutes behind them and competitive rhythm, while Baena and David come back with less fatigue. The workload management during the break allows Atlético's coaching staff to have fresh players available for the next league fixture.
Frequently asked questions
How many minutes did Robin Le Normand play for Spain against Czech Republic?
Robin Le Normand played the full 90 minutes in Spain's match against Czech Republic at the Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo. He started alongside Aymeric Laporte and delivered a very solid performance, completing 99 accurate passes and committing only one foul.
Why did Álex Baena only play 45 minutes for Spain?
Álex Baena was substituted at half-time by Fermín López in the match against Czech Republic. The decision was made to manage his workload after the Atlético attacker produced a lively first half with three shots.
How did Jan Oblak perform for Slovenia against Switzerland?
Jan Oblak and Slovenia lost 2-1 in their visit to Switzerland in the Nations League. The Atlético goalkeeper made five fine saves that prevented a heavier defeat, although he was involved in a rare error in Switzerland's first goal when a slow ball slipped through his hands on the goal line.