Barış Alper Yılmaz mania in Spain! Stunning bicycle kick and a new record: Explosive reactions after Spain–Turkey clash
Spain and Turkey faced off in Seville in the final match of Group E in the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers. Despite Spain being the overwhelming favourite—especially after their 6–0 win in the first meeting—the match ended in a 2–2 draw, prompting striking headlines across the European media. Here are the details…
Turkey travelled to Sevilla for the final group-stage fixture against Spain. Early predictions heavily favoured Spain, who had cruised to a 6–0 win in the reverse fixture.
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Spain took the lead in the 4th minute through Dani Olmo, but Turkey equalised in the 42nd minute with a goal from Deniz Gül. In the 54th minute, Salih Özcan made it 2–1 for Turkey. Spain levelled the score again in the 62nd minute with Oyarzabal’s strike. With no goals in the remaining minutes, the thrilling match ended 2–2.
Spain secured their ticket to the 2026 World Cup, while Turkey advanced to the play-off round. The dramatic showdown sparked strong reactions in the European press.
What the European Media Wrote
MARCA: “Turkey Achieved the Impossible”
“Spain will not finish the qualification stage without conceding. After keeping five straight clean sheets, their streak was broken by Deniz Gül. Following a corner, the Porto striker capitalised from close range, ending Unai Simón’s record of 550 minutes without conceding. The goalkeeper had not conceded since Cristiano Ronaldo’s UEFA Nations League final goal. With this goal, Spain equalled their best defensive record en route to the 1978 World Cup, where they conceded just once. England still hold the best record with an 8-match 22–0 campaign.”
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AS: “It Hurt Us”
“Drawing with Turkey hurt us, but it does not take away from the excellent work done in recent months or from the fact that La Roja will be a serious contender at the 2026 World Cup. It’s true that nine months remain, that we must not get carried away, and that injuries can appear out of nowhere. But it is clear that De la Fuente has many strong options to choose from ahead of Mexico–Canada–USA. This summer will either justify or challenge him.”
SPORT: “Turkey Started the Second Half Like a Cold Shower”
“The match went into the break with a slight shock after Turkey’s goal, but Spain reacted quickly. Fabián could have put Spain back ahead, but he was denied by the goalkeeper. Turkey—having nothing to lose—pressed higher and Simón prevented a 1–2 scoreline with a crucial save. The score didn’t matter much, but both teams wanted to finish the group with a win. A solid Spain against an unpredictable Turkey.”
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EL MUNDO: “Humiliating Dominance”
“Such humiliating dominance comes with consequences—like last night’s match in Seville, where nothing was truly at stake, and everyone knew it.”
Barış Alper’s Bicycle Kick Goes Viral
In the 53rd minute, after a free kick delivered into Spain’s box, Barış Alper Yılmaz controlled the ball and attempted a spectacular bicycle kick, forcing Unai Simón to make a last-second save.
Throughout the match, the Turkish forward delivered an eye-catching performance and quickly became the most searched player on a major Spanish football website.
A Spanish fan wrote on X (Twitter):
“Watching Barış Yılmaz and Ferran Torres as the ‘9’ in today’s Spain–Turkey match… I don’t understand how Barça still hasn’t signed a better striker… The Turkish player is miles better than the ineffective Ferran.”
