Isco scored twice as Spain moved three points clear at the top of Group G with a 3-0 victory over Italy in their 2018 World Cup qualification fixture at the Bernabeu on Saturday night.
The two nations entered the match level on 16 points at the top of the section, but Spain have taken a big step towards securing a spot at next summer's World Cup courtesy of a brace from Isco and late Alvaro Morata effort.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live 2018 World Cup qualification coverage continues from Madrid as Spain welcome Italy in Group G. Both sides have won five of their six matches in this particular qualification campaign, with the only dropped points occurring in their 1-1 draw in October. Stay tuned right here for what should be an enthralling night of action from the capital!
Tonight will be the 33rd international meeting between Spain and Italy. Spain lead the head-to-head 11 wins to Italy's nine, while 12 fixtures between the two European nations have finished all square. As mentioned, the reverse match in Torino finished 1-1 back in October, with a late Daniele de Rossi penalty cancelling out a 55th-minute effort from Vitolo. Will there be a victor in tonight's match?
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Madrid. Any surprises in the two XIs? Let's have a look at the players that will start at the Bernabeu...
TEAMS!
ESP: De Gea; Carvajal, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Koke; Isco, Asensio, Silva
ITA: Buffon; Darmian, Barzagli, Bonucci, Spinazzola; Candreva, De Rossi, Verratti, Insigne; Belotti, Immobile
Marco Asensio is given his first senior start for Spain in the false nine position, while David Silva and Isco are also selected as head coach Julen Lopetegui leaves Alvaro Morata and David Villa on the bench. Further back, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta are joined by Koke, while there are no surprises at the back as Sergio Ramos starts alongside Gerard Pique. Very interesting Spain XI here!
As for Italy, there is just a fourth cap at full-back for Atalanta defender Leonardo Spinazzola, while Andrea Belotti is joined in the final third by Ciro Immobile, with Lorenzo Insigne and Antonio Candreva starting out wide. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti is alongside Roma's Daniele de Rossi in the middle, while there is a spot for Manchester United's Matteo Darmian at right-back.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this warm evening in Madrid. I shall speak about Italy a little bit later, but let's start with Spain. La Roja currently top Group G ahead of Italy courtesy of a superior goal difference, but it is very tight at the summit. There is simply no downplaying the importance of tonight's match in the capital.
Just a reminder that only the winner of each group will be guaranteed a spot in the finals of the 2018 World Cup, while the best eight runners-up across all groups will advance to the playoffs in a bid to make the tournament. In truth, both Spain and Italy should qualify for the competition in Russia, but only topping the section will absolutely make sure of a ticket to the party.
Spain and Italy, as mentioned, played out a 1-1 draw when they met during this particular qualification phase last October, but Italy knocked Spain out of Euro 2016 in the round of 16 with a 2-0 victory. Between 2008 and 2014, Spain enjoyed an impressive run of results against their opponents tonight, but Italy are now unbeaten in their last three meetings with La Roja.
Spain have never lost a World Cup qualifier on home soil, however, winning 46 and drawing nine of those particular fixtures. Another victory tonight would place the 2010 World Cup winners within two wins of securing top spot in the group, and an automatic position in the finals. Defeat, however, would leave Italy very much in control at the top of the section. The atmosphere is building at the Bernabeu!
Spain opened their Group G campaign with an 8-0 win over Liechtenstein last September, before the 1-1 draw with Italy on October 6. Four points became seven when they won 2-0 in Albania on October 9, and they have since beaten Macedonia twice and Israel in their last three matches. Indeed, Julen Loptegui's side have scored 21 times in this section and conceded just three.
In terms of what is ahead for Spain, they will travel to Liechtenstein on Tuesday, before finishing against Albania (H) and Israel (A) next month. The last thing that Spain need is to lose tonight and face the real possibility of dropping into the playoffs, which will include some big teams.
As for Italy, Giampeiro Ventura's side opened their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign with a 3-0 victory away to Israel last September, before the 1-1 draw with Spain in Torino. The Italians then won 3-2 at Macedonia and 4-0 at Liechtenstein in their next two, before scoring seven unanswered goals in fixtures with Albania and Liechtenstein in March and June respectively.
Following this match, Italy will host Israel, before welcoming Macedonia and travelling to Albania in their final two Group G matches. A draw tonight would certainly favour Spain, who would fancy their chances of winning their last three fixtures, but the same could also be said for the Italians. It will be very interesting to see what happens if the score is still level approaching the latter stages.
There is a lot happening on Sports Mole tonight, so be sure to have a flick around the site to see what tickles your fancy. We have you covered on the international break!
Here we go then - both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff in Madrid. Once the national anthems have been sung and the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken, we will be ready to get the action underway in this key Group G contest. Stay tuned for all of the action!
KICKOFF! Spain kick things off in Madrid...
... not quite a full house inside the stadium, but there is a brilliant atmosphere. As expected, Spain have been in charge of the possession in the early moments, with Italy seemingly waiting to pounce. You do get the feeling that the first goal here - if there indeed is one - could be crucial.
Asensio has his first chance to run the Italian defence, but Barzagli is across to make the challenge, and indeed win a free kick from the Real Madrid attacker. Already a good tempo to this match.
BOOKING! Verratti (Italy) is booked for a poor challenge on Busquets.
Darmian breaks down the right for Italy before feeding Candreva, but the number six cannot find a pass into Immobile, who was actually standing in an offside position. Great tempo early on here.
Spain have a free kick in a very dangerous area as De Rossi brings Koke to the deck...
... Ramos looks to pick out the top corner, but his effort is over the crossbar.
Good pressure from Italy in the last couple of minutes as De Rossi dispossesses Busquets on a couple of occasions in the middle of the park. There is a real battle occurring out there at the moment.
Just a reminder that both of these teams are level on points at the top of Group G, but Spain lead the section on goal difference. A victory tonight for either side would mean so much. Still goalless with 12 minutes on the clock, but both have already shown bits and pieces in the final third of the field.
BOOKING! Bonucci (Italy) is booked for chopping Asensio to the deck.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Italy (Isco)
Spain take the lead from the resulting free kick as Isco picks out the top corner with a super effort!
Bonucci was fortunate not to be sent off for that last-man challenge on Asensio, but Italy have paid a big price with Isco finding the top corner with a stunning free kick. What a player that man is.
It has been a decent response from Italy as De Rossi and Verratti start to enjoy possession in the middle of the park, while Darmian is being allowed all sorts of space down the right. The Manchester United defender looks to deliver towards Belotti, but the ball has too much pace.
I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals tonight, especially with Italy throwing players forward, which is leaving all sorts of space down the other end. This is a super game.
SAVE! Wonderful save from De Gea as the Spain goalkeeper keeps out a header from Belotti, who had met a brilliant cross from Darmian. That is excellent from the Man United number one.
Italy are on the front foot at the moment as they threaten with a couple of set pieces in quick succession, but a wonderful header from Ramos prevents De Rossi from having a clear sight of goal. So, Spain lead 1-0 with 24 minutes on the clock, and it has been a high-quality game here.
CHANCE! Pique rises to meet a cross from Carvajal, and his header is just over! Spain threaten to score a second, but Italy are causing problems down the other end of the field.
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining at the Bernabeu, and the two teams are separated by that wonderful free kick from Isco. Spain currently have possession in the Italian half.
Belotti seemingly has a wonderful chance to break into a one-on-one with De Gea, but the Torino forward just loses control at the final moment, and the offside flag had actually been raised.
Spain again work the ball into a wide position, but there are no takers on Isco's cross, and the Italians can resume from the dead-ball line. Italy need more from Insigne on the left here.
Verratti looks to find Insigne with a clever pass from deep, but the weight is just too strong, and Spain have a goal kick. Not too much to report in the last couple of minutes here.
Bernardeschi, Eder and Gabbiadini are among those on the Italian bench tonight, and it would not be a surprise to see Ventura make a change at the interval. Italy have been dangerous in spells, but Spain have certainly been the more incisive in the final third of the field. The home side come close once again as Carvajal strikes one from distance, and it is deflected just wide of Buffon's far post.
It must be said that the opening 40 minutes of this match have absolutely flown past.
GOAL! Spain 2-0 Italy (Isco)
Wonderful, just wonderful. Isco doubles his tally for the night as the Real Madrid midfielder works some space outside the Italian box before finding the bottom corner with a terrific finish!
Italy are all over the place at the moment as Spain look for a third before the interval.
HALF-TIME: Spain 2-0 Italy
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Spain leading Italy 2-0 courtesy of a first-half brace from Isco, who has been stunning. The Real Madrid midfielder opened the scoring in the 14th minute, before doubling the home side's advantage five minutes before the break with a wonderful free kick. Italy have a massive task to turn this Group G clash around here.
STATISTICS! Spain have shaded the possession with 55%, while they hit the target with two of their five attempts on target, scoring on both occasions. Italy, meanwhile, hit the target with one of their two attempts, and that brought a wonderful save from De Gea when Belotti looked favourite to score. Two bookings to report for Italy - Verratti in the fourth minute, and Bonucci in the 12th.
BENCH WATCH! Bernardeschi, Eder, El Shaarawy and Gabbiadini are among those on the Italian bench tonight, and it would not be a surprise to see a change at the interval. Spain, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Thiago, Aspas, Morata, Saul, Pedro and Villa. Some good players then!
RESTART! Italy resume the action in Madrid...
... no changes from either side at the break, but you suspect that both managers have alterations in mind for the second period. It is safe to say that Italy need the next goal if they are to have any realistic chance of avoiding defeat tonight. A third for Spain and it would be good night.
Isco has been absolutely magic for Spain tonight. He could not get a game for Real Madrid towards the start of last season, but has developed into one of the form players in world football.
SAVE! Smart save from De Gea, who gets down to keep out Insigne's low effort. The rebound falls for Insigne, who has another go, but it is deflected into the arms of De Gea.
Immobile hangs out on the final line of the Spain defence, but he cannot meet a clever pass from Insigne, who is starting to see more and more of the ball. Better from the away side here.
Possession football for Italy as they look to work the ball into the final third, but Spain are holding firm at the back. I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals in tonight's match.
CHANCE! Another chance for the away side as Belotti rises to meet a high ball inside the Spain box, but his effort is over the crossbar. That is not like the in-form centre-forward!
Asensio sends one just wide of Buffon's past after having a strike from distance.
Little over 30 minutes of this Group G clash remaining, and Spain still lead 2-0 courtesy of that first-half brace from Isco. Italy have been strong in the second period, but they need a goal here.
Still no movement on either bench as we pass the hour mark in Madrid.
Koke hits one from distance, but his effort was always rising over Buffon's crossbar here.
You sense that there might be something in this game for Italy, but Spain are just as capable of scoring a third goal to kill the match. The second period continues to tick on at 2-0 Spain.
Belotti has been disappointing for Italy tonight. The number nine has had a couple of really good chances, but has been unable to make the most of the opportunities presented to him. Spain have just started to dominate the ball once again, and frustration leads to De Rossi chopping Isco to the deck.
Bernardeschi is preparing to come off the Italian bench as we head for the final 20 minutes.
SAVE! Super save from Buffon to keep out Carvajal's close-range effort after a stunning piece of work from Isco, who has been absolutely wonderful in Madrid.
ITALY SUBS! Bernardeschi and Eder replace Belotti and Candreva.
SPAIN SUB! Alvaro Morata replaces Iniesta for Spain.
Little over 15 minutes of the second period remaining, and Spain still lead 2-0. Italy are seeing plenty of the ball, but De Gea has not been tested since the early stages of the second half here.
Morata looks to run away from Barzagli after more excellent work from Isco, but Italy's centre-back uses his strength to barge the Chelsea forward to the ground. Might have been 3-0 Spain there.
Immobile sticks the ball into the bottom corner for Italy, but the striker is clearly offside.
GOAL! Spain 3-0 Italy (Morata)
Sensational from Spain as the home side make it 3-0 courtesy of a close-range finish from Morata, who converted a low cross from Ramos. It was outstanding work from the centre-back there!
SPAIN SUB! Asensio is replaced by Saul Niguez.
ITALY SUB! Gabbiadini replaces Immobile for the away side.
The Spain supporters are absolutely loving this, and why not? The 2010 world champions have been quite wonderful. In this form, there are not many teams that could deal with them.
Little over five minutes of the second period remaining, and Spain are set to move three points clear of Italy at the top of Group G. This is a massive result in the context of this group.
Possession football from Spain as we head for the final stages of this Group G match.
It seems that David Villa will be given some late minutes here. He has been called back!
SAVE! De Gea is across to keep out a decent free kick from Insigne.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Morata's header is ruled offside!
SPAIN SUB! Isco is replaced by Villa.
We are into the first of two additional minutes here.
FULL-TIME: Spain 3-0 Italy
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Spain recording a 3-0 win over Italy at the Bernabeu. Spain have taken a big step towards qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, while Italy are now staring at the playoffs. What a performance from Spain. Thanks for joining us once again!
