In the absence of coach Luis Enrique, missing due to a family emergency, Spain beat Malta 2-0 thanks to Alvaro Morata's double.
Match Events
16' CLOSE! Saul's shot wide out
31' GOAL! Malta 0-1 Spain (Morata)
GOOOAAALLL! Morata breaks the deadlock, Spain lead 1-0! Hermoso chipped a deep ball over the top of Malta defence, which Morata got on the end of. The striker took the ball wide and slides the ball underneath Bonello at the near post from a tight angle. A huge weight off his shoulders after going a few games without a goal for his country.
59' CHANCE! Asensio's shot saved
73' GOAL! Malta 0-2 Spain (Morata)
GOOOAAALLL! Morata scores his second goal of the game and makes it 2-0! Navas with a superb cross into the box from the right wing, straight onto he head of Morata who powers the ball into the back of the net from just a few yards out. The keeper had no chance.
77' NICE SHOT! Romos' shot saved
Player Ratings
Match Report
An Alvaro Morata brace proved decisive as Spain laboured to a 2-0 win away to Malta in the absence of coach Luis Enrique, making it two wins in as many games in Euro 2020 qualifying.
It was announced earlier on Tuesday that Luis Enrique would not be at the game due to a family emergency, though there never looked to be any danger of an upset under the guidance of assistant Robert Moreno.
Although it took them longer to make the breakthrough than they would have wished, Morata put Spain ahead in the 31st minute, with Malta having just 16 per cent of the ball in the first half.
The visitors continued to underwhelm despite their dominance in the second half, though Morata doubled his tally towards the end to wrap up a comfortable – albeit unimpressive – victory.
Line-ups
Malta XI: J. Caruana, P. Fenech, J. Zerafa, H. Bonello, J. Mintoff, S. Borg, Z. Muscat, J. Corbalan, K. Nwoko, M. Guillaumier, J. Mbong
Subs: M. Mifsud, J. Haber, L. Grech, R. Camilleri, R. Muscat, N. Vella, B. Kristensen, L. Montebello, K. Micallef, D. Vella, J. Grech, N. Muscat
Spain XI: Sergio Ramos, Canales, Morata, S.Roberto, Saúl, Kepa, Bernat, Gayá, Hermoso, Marco Asensio, R.Hernández
Subs: J.Navas, Parejo, Muniain, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, David de Gea, Rodrigo, S.Gómez, I.Martínez, Jaime Mata, Pau López, Ceballos
sanmouthera
237
this day should be remembered, Morata actually managed to score brace 😂. Next year AF be like " on this day Morata scored 2 goals on international duty "
EminenceBASIT
198
Morata now becoming hero after Chelsea turned him to meme
RED-DEVIL09
187
placing bets on Spain to win Euro 2020!!!!
dettaboss4l
168
Here comes the Morata trolls[Sadtolook]
MesutPjanic
165
pls guys let's credit morata.He stepped up and played a good game to help his team cruise pass.Morata is gradually picking form.My Respect.
VanishPrasad
37
MATCH STATS! Both sides have met six times previously, with Spain winning every single time they have faced Malta. Malta’s 2-1 victory over Faroe Islands on Saturday was their first win in a competitive game since June 2013. Spain recorded one of their biggest ever victories, crushing Malta 12-1 in a Euro qualifying game back in 1983. La Roja have lost only one game away from home since June 2016. Malta have conceded 28 goals in their games against the Spanish national football team – an average of 4.66 per game.