In the absence of coach Luis Enrique, missing due to a family emergency, Spain beat Malta 2-0 thanks to Alvaro Morata's double.
2020 EURO qualification
0-2
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