Mendoza featured in all three of Spain U21's matches during the international break, totaling 180 minutes while scoring in the 13-0 win over San Marino.
Analysis:Mendoza gained valuable playing time with Spain U21 after seeing his role at Atletico diminish before the international break. The midfielder scored against San Marino before completing 90 minutes against Romania, where he also contributed to Spain's attacking play in the 7-1 win that secured qualification for the 2027 European Championship. He returns to Atletico with increased match rhythm and a manageable workload, though competition in midfield makes a start against Alaves on Saturday unlikely.
