Spain will be seeking revenge against Scotland when the two nations lock horns at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville for a Euro 2024 qualifier on Thursday night.
La Roja were surprisingly beaten 2-0 by the Tartan Army at Hampden Park on matchday two earlier this year courtesy of two goals from Scott McTominay.
Match preview
Since Spain were put to the sword by Scotland in Glasgow, their first defeat under new head coach Luis de la Fuente in just his second game in charge, La Roja have responded well by putting together a four-game winning streak across two different competitions, lifting their first-ever UEFA Nations League trophy in the process.
A 2-1 win over Italy in the Nations League semi-finals in June was followed by a penalty-shootout success against Croatia in the final, and they have since recorded two thumping victories over Georgia and Cyprus in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Indeed, a hat-trick from captain Alvaro Morata inspired Spain to a 7-1 away win over Georgia last month, four days before they hit six past Cyprus without reply to keep them in contention to secure top spot in Group A.
De la Fuente's men still have plenty of work to do if they wish to knock Scotland off their perch at the summit of Group A, as they currently sit six points behind the Tartan Army with a game in hand; a win on Thursday would move La Roja to within three points of Scotland heading into their final three qualification fixtures.
Spain, ranked 10th in the world by FIFA, will fancy their chances of success on Thursday as they have won each of their last 24 Euro qualifying matches on home soil dating back to October 2003, including a 3-1 victory over Scotland in their last home meeting in October 2011.
Scotland are still basking in the glory of their famous victory over Spain seven months ago, their first against La Roja for 39 years, and they have since preserved their perfect start in Group A with wins against Norway, Georgia and Cyprus.
A stunning smash-and-grab 2-1 away victory over Norway in March – a game they were losing with just three minutes remaining – was followed by successive wins by an aggregate score of 5-0 against Georgia and Cyprus last month to put the Tartan Army on the cusp of qualifying for their second successive European Championships.
Steve Clarke's side, ranked 31st in the world by FIFA, are unbeaten in each of their last nine competitive games, including eight victories, and merely need to avoid defeat against Spain on Thursday to book their place at next year's Euros in Germany; Scotland also need to claim six points from their final three qualification games to secure top spot in Group A.
Spirits are understandably high within the Scotland camp at present, although they will be seeking to bounce back from last month's 3-1 home defeat to bitter rivals England in a friendly fixture, as they endeavour to taste success in Seville for the very first time on Thursday.
Indeed, the Tartan Army have lost both their previous two visits to Seville, with a 4-1 defeat by Brazil at the 1982 World Cup finals followed by a slender 1-0 defeat against Spain in a 1985 World Cup qualifier under former boss Jock Stein; Scotland's only win in Spain was a memorable 6-2 triumph at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid back in 1963.
Team News
Spain and Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, who at the age of just 16 became La Roja's youngest-ever player and goalscorer in last month's win over Georgia, has withdrawn from the national team squad due to a hip injury.
Villarreal winger Yeremy Pino has also been forced to withdraw due to a hamstring problem, while Dani Olmo (knee), Pedri (hamstring), Marco Asensio (foot) and Jose Gaya (thigh) are other notable absentees who continue to recovery from injury.
Granada's Bryan Zaragoza has received his first senior call-up following Pino's withdrawal, while Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Ansu Fati has returned to the senior setup after missing out on a call-up last month, and both players are in contention to feature in some capacity on Thursday.
The absence of Yamal could see Barca teammate Ferran Torres, who scored a brace against Cyprus last time out, start in attack alongside Morata and Nico Williams, while Alejandro Balde is set to start at left-back in the absence of Gaya.
As for Scotland, Rangers' Ryan Jack (unspecified) and Millwall's Kevin Nisbet (hamstring) are both ruled out due to injury, and the Tartan Army are also having to cope without Real Sociedad loanee Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Newcastle United's Elliot Anderson, who is yet to decide whether he wishes to represent Scotland or England at international level.
The absence of Tierney could see either Andrew Robertson or the returning Liam Cooper deputise on the left side of a back three next to Jack Hendry and Ryan Porteous; should Robertson begin at left centre-back, Greg Taylor could start at left wing-back.
Forwards Jacob Brown and Lawrence Shankland have both returned to the senior squad this month, but Clarke is expected to hand either Lyndon Dykes or Che Adams a start up front, with John McGinn and McTominay – who has scored six goals in just five Euro 2024 qualifiers – set to provide support in advanced midfield roles.
Spain possible starting lineup:
Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Balde; Merino, Rodri, Gavi; Torres, Morata, N. Williams
Scotland possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Porteous, Hendry, Cooper; Hickey, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson; McTominay, McGinn; Adams
We say: Spain 2-1 Scotland
Scotland have taken a fearless approach to Euro 2024 qualifying and have every right to feel optimistic heading into Thursday's contest, but securing success in Spain and replicating their famous triumph over La Roja earlier this year will be a tall order.
Spain may be missing a few key players, but they have been scoring goals for fun in recent matches and still boast enough firepower in the final third to claim maximum points and extend their remarkable winning home run in Euro qualifying to 25 matches.
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