Spain Under-21s rose to the top of their 2019 Under-21 European Championship qualifying group courtesy of a 1-0 win over Iceland Under-21s in Murcia on Thursday night.
Fabian scored the only goal of the match in the first half as the home side secured a vital three points.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live coverage of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the 2019 European Under-21 Championship qualifier between Spain Under-21s and Iceland Under-21s from Murcia. Victory for the home side tonight would see them move to the top of Group 2 ahead of Northern Ireland Under-21s, while the visitors would jump into second with all three points. Stay tuned for the action here!
There is a strange look to Group 2 when considering the amount of matches that the six teams have played. Northern Ireland Under-21s are top of the section on nine points, but they have played four times. Spain Under-21s, meanwhile, are second on six points having won both of their matches to date.
Slovakia Under-21s are down in third with two wins and two defeats, then comes Albania Under-21s with one win, two draws and one defeat. Iceland Under-21s have played three times – picking up four points. Meanwhile, Estonia Under-21s are currently bottom of the section on one point, and they have actually played five times. It ranges from two matches to five, which is pretty bizarre.
One thing is for certain, Spain Under-21s would move to the top of Group 2 with all three points tonight, although Northern Ireland Under-21s would have the chance to return to first position when they travel to Albania Under-21s tomorrow night. Strange old group, but there you have it.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Murcia. Who starts for Spain Under-21s tonight? What about the visitors, any familiar faces? Let's see...
TEAMS!
SPAIN U21: Simon; Maffeo, Vallejo, Nunez, Martin; Ceballos, Fabian, Soler; Rodri, Mayoral, Oyarzabal
ICELAND U21: Olafsson; Sampsted, Fridiksson, H.Gudmundsson, Andresson; Anderson, Magnusson, Einarsson; Haraldsson, A.Gudmundsson, Porsteinsson
Plenty of familiar faces in the Spain Under-21 XI tonight, with Real Madrid trio Borja Mayoral, Jesus Vallejo and Dani Ceballos all selected. Valencia's brilliant young midfielder Carlos Soler also starts, as does Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal. Meanwhile, on-loan Manchester City defender Pablo Maffeo, who has been excellent at Girona this season, features at right-back. Full selection below...
As for Iceland Under-21s, there is a spot in midfield for Fulham's Jon Dagur Porsteinsson, while PSV Eindhoven forward Albert Gudmundsson will lead the line. Axel Oskar Andresson, who has made two first-team appearances for Reading this season, will start at the back for the visitors.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 30 minutes from kickoff on this warm night in Murcia. I shall speak about the visitors a little bit later, but let's start with Spain Under-21s. As mentioned, La Roja sit second in Group 2 having won both of their fixtures to date.
Albert Celades's team opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Estonia Under-21s in September, before recording a 4-1 victory away to Slovakia Under-21s last month. They have two matches over the next five days – facing Iceland Under-21s tonight before hosting Slovakia Under-21s on November 14.
Spain Under-21s made it to the final of the 2017 European Under-21 championships in the summer after beating Italy Under-21s 3-1 in the semi-finals, but suffered a 1-0 defeat to Germany Under-21s in the final. It was a disappointing finish to what was an impressive tournament for the Spaniards, but they will fancy their chances of making another challenge in 2019.
As for the visitors, there is no question that this is a golden period in Icelandic football. The senior team famously reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 after defeating England in the round of 16, and have recently become the smallest nation by population to ever clinch a spot at the finals of a World Cup.
Iceland Under-21s have not qualified for a major tournament since 2011, however, when they went out in the group stage. They finished third in qualification for the 2017 European Under-21 championships, and have a task on their hands to secure a position in the 2019 competition.
Indeed, a total of four points from three matches has left Iceland Under-21s fifth in Group 2. They opened their campaign with a 3-2 home defeat to Albania Under-21s, before winning 2-0 away to Slovakia Under-21s on October 5. Last time out, Eyjolfur Sverrisson's side shared the points in a goalless draw with Albania Under-21s. Right, kickoff is almost upon us in Murcia!
KICKOFF! Spain kick things off on home soil...
... far from a full house inside the stadium, but there is a good atmosphere, and those in attendance will be looking for a strong showing from Spain Under-21s. As expected, the home side have immediately taken control of the possession as they look to pass the away side into submission early on.
Iceland, as expected, are very deep in these early moments. Spain have been keen to work the ball into wide areas, but the first strike of the match came from Rodri, whose effort whistled over the crossbar.
All Spain at the moment as the home side continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. Maffeo is seeing plenty of the ball in the right-back area, while Martin is almost playing as a winger down the other side. Iceland just cannot seem to keep possession as the pressure continues.
SAVE! Stunning save from Olafsson as the Iceland goalkeeper keeps out a close-range header from Mayoral. It is a quite wonderful piece of work from the away side's stopper here!
Iceland are almost playing a 5-4-1 at the moment as Spain pass the ball with pace and purpose. Rodri is running the show from a central position as he continues to spread the play from left to right.
It would not be a surprise to see Spain end the first period with around 80% possession. Iceland simply cannot keep the ball, which is inviting the home side forward. I have just seen another replay of that save from the Mayoral header and it was even better than I first though. Wonderful save.
Iceland break clear following a Spain corner and eventually have a shooting chance, but Anderson's effort is straight at the home side's goalkeeper. It was a weak effort in the end.
So, still goalless with 14 minutes on the clock, but it has been a high-tempo game of football. Mayoral has just come close to breaking into the Iceland box following a smart pass from Rodri, but Sampsted was across to make the challenge. The first goal might not be too far away here.
BOOKING Nunez (Spain) is booked for a foul on Gudmundsson.
Gudmundsson strikes a free kick into the Spain wall, and the home side can clear their lines. A little better from the visitors in the last couple of minutes as they manage to move up the field here.
Fabian has a strike deflected into the arms of the Iceland goalkeeper as the score remains goalless with 18 minutes on the clock. It has been a little bit scrappy in the last few minutes, with the referee forced to intervene on a couple of occasions. Ceballos is the latest to be left in a heap on the ground.
Iceland continue to hold firm as another Spain attack ends with a whimper. Martin looks to play a one-two with Rodri, but the return is too strong, allowing the visitors to resume through Olafsson.
Much, much better from the visitors here as the likes of Gudmundsson and Einarsson get on the ball in forward positions. Spain are still having plenty of the possession, but they are not doing too much with it as the team in white continue to stand strong in a defensive area. It remains 0-0 here.
Iceland are much further up the field now as they continue to enjoy possession of the ball. Gudmundsson goes down outside the Spain box following a tussle with Vallejo, but the referee is unmoved.
Pass, pass, pass, pass from Spain, but they are not really getting anywhere. Their possession is currently up around 75%, but the score is still level with 27 minutes on the clock in Murcia. The hosts have just come close following a corner, but Andresson managed to clear off the line.
CHANCE! Soler delivers a wonderful cross into the Iceland box, but Fabian can only turn his effort wide of the post. The delivery from Soler was absolutely wonderful there.
Another half-chance for Spain as Fabian finds Mayoral with a cross from a deep area, but the Real Madrid striker gets it all wrong, with his header dropping harmlessly wide of the post.
CLOSE! Soler just fails to pick out the far corner with a low strike!
Iceland are riding their luck at the moment as the home side continue to create openings in the final third of the field. Fabian and Soler have both had big chances in the last few minutes here.
CHANCE! Yet another chance for Mayoral as the forward breaks into the Iceland box, but his effort is over the crossbar. Spain really should be ahead at this stage of the match.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Iceland (Fabian)
Spain make the breakthrough in the 36th minute as Fabian finds the far corner with a super strike!
In truth, that opening goal had been coming. Iceland have ridden their luck on a number of occasions, but the visitors are now behind approaching the latter stages of the first period here.
Spain come close once again as Soler floats a cross towards the far post, but Andresson just about manages to make the clearance. Iceland really cannot afford to concede a second at this stage.
Iceland really need the half-time break to arrive in order to regroup. Spain are utterly dominating matters at the moment, and look capable of doubling their lead at any moment. I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals, especially with Iceland breaking when they have the chance.
All Spain as they continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field.
Soler delivers a dangerous free kick into the Iceland box, but Vallejo just fails to make contact at the far post. That might be that in terms of the first 45 minutes of football here.
HALF-TIME: Spain 1-0 Iceland
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Spain leading Iceland 1-0 courtesy of a super strike from Fabian. In truth, the home side could be three or four goals ahead, but poor finishing has kept the score to one. Iceland need something to change in the second period.
STATS! Spain had 14 attempts in the first period, although just three of those were on target. Iceland, on the other hand, hit the target with one of their two attempts. Just the one yellow card to report, and that actually came for Spain's Nunez in the early stages. Spain have had four corners to Iceland's zero.
RESTART! Iceland resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops in Murcia.
I would be very surprised if we had seen the last of the goals here. Spain could have scored four or five in the first period, and will be hoping to score a second as soon as possible. Iceland, on the other hand, had a couple of decent moments in the first half as they played on the break.
Ceballos dances past a couple of challenges before releasing a strike, but Andresson is on hand to make the block, and Iceland eventually clear their lines. Excellent feet from Ceballos there.
CLOSE! Ceballos then curls one just wide of the far post!
Iceland cannot get out of their own half at the moment as Spain continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. Ceballos is running the show as he continues to spread the play from left to right.
It does appear that it will only be a matter of time before Spain score a second. That said, at 1-0, Iceland will always be in the game. The home supporters have lifted the noise levels inside the stadium.
Again it is Ceballos who dances past a whole host of challenges before striking towards goal, but his effort is blocked over the crossbar. Iceland are defending for their lives, but there is only so much one team can take. A second would surely kill off any hope that the visitors might have here.
Little over 30 minutes of this Group 2 clash remaining, and Spain still lead 1-0 courtesy of that super strike from Fabian in the first period. Iceland have had a couple of chances to break away in this second period, but Vallejo has been a tower of strength at the back for the home side.
BOOKING! Sampsted (Iceland) is booked for taking out Mayoral.
Spain have a free kick just outside the Iceland box here...
... Ceballos misses the crossbar with his free kick.
Little over 25 minutes of football remaining, and Iceland are somehow still in this game. Spain pass and probe in the final third as they search for a second, but the score is still 1-0 in Murcia.
Rodri heads a Ceballos corner over the crossbar as Spain have another half-chance with little over 25 minutes of football to play here. Still no movement on either bench.
Spain's possession is up around 78%, which is an indication of what is happening here. Mayoral has just had another chance after meeting a cross from Oyarzabal, but his effort was blocked!
Spain really should be four or five goals to the good here, but Iceland are very much in the match with 69 minutes on the clock. It has not been close in terms of possession or chances, but the score is indeed very close approaching the final 20 minutes. Can the visitors nick something here?!
ICELAND SUB! Karlsson replaces Haradlsson for the away side here.
Soler just misses the post with a powerful strike from distance. It remains 1-0 to the hosts.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of attacking football in the last few moments, with Spain not doing too much with their possession. Still no movement on the home side's bench here.
Soler again hits one from distance, but again his effort is well wide of the post.
BOOKING! Thorsteinsson (Iceland) is booked for a foul on Soler.
Spain are preparing to make their first change, which is not much of a surprise because it has all gone a little bit flat in the last few minutes. Still just the one goal separates these two teams.
SPAIN SUB! Pedraza replaces Fabian for the home side.
Half-chance for the home side, but Vallejo heads straight at the Iceland goalkeeper.
Gudmundsson again goes down holding his face following a clash with Nunez, who has been booked, but the referee is not interested. Nunez does need to be a touch careful here.
SPAIN SUB! Mayoral, who has missed a host of chances, is replaced by Gual.
Little over five minutes of normal time remaining here, and the score is still 1-0 Spain. Iceland must be credited for the work that they have put into this game, especially in the second period.
ICELAND SUB! Brynjarsson replaces Einarsson for the away side.
Oyarzabal sees his near-post corner cleared as Iceland continue to resist the pressure. That said, the visitors are going to lose unless they come up with something in the final moments here.
I should not imagine that we will have too much injury time at the end of the match.
BOOKING! Andersson (Iceland) is booked for a foul on Soler.
SPAIN SUB! Fornals replaces Oyarzabal for the home side.
We are into the third of four additional minutes at the end of the match here.
Karlsson misses the target from a decent position, and that could well be that for this one.
FULL-TIME: Spain 1-0 Iceland
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Spain recording a 1-0 win over Iceland to move to the top of their qualifying group. Fair play to the visitors for making it a proper game. Thanks for joining our live coverage once again, until next time!
