Spain made it four wins from their four Euro 2020 qualification matches courtesy of a 3-0 win over Sweden in Monday night's Group F clash at the Bernabeu.
The victory - earned by goals from Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal - means that La Roja are now five points clear of second-placed Sweden at the top of the section ahead of their next qualifier away to Romania in September.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Euro 2020 qualifier between Spain and Sweden from the Bernabeu. Spain have collected nine points from their three Group F matches thus far to top the section. Sweden, however, have also made a strong start to their qualification campaign, with seven points from their three matches thus far leaving them in second spot.
TEAMS!
SPAIN: Kepa; Carvajal, I Martinez, Ramos, Alba; Ruiz, Busquets, Parejo; Isco, Rodrigo, Asensio
SWEDEN: Olsen; Lustig, Jansson, Helander, Augustinsson; Forsberg, Ekdal, Larsson, Claesson; Berg, Quaison
Spain's team shows eight changes from the one which started against Faroe Islands on Friday night. Indeed, only Kepa, Sergio Ramos and Isco keep their spots, with Dani Carvajal, Sergio Busquets and Marco Asensio amongst those coming into the XI. Fabian Ruiz is handed his first Spain start in the middle of midfield and it will be very interesting to see how he performs tonight.
As for Sweden, head coach Jan Andersson has made just the one change to the team which started the 3-0 win over Malta. The alteration comes in midfield where the experienced Sebastian Larsson comes in for Kristoffer Olsson. As a result, Marcus Berg is again joined in the final third by Robin Quaison, with Emil Forsberg featuring in a wide position.
Far from a full house inside the stadium but there is a decent atmosphere. Let's hope for an entertaining match between these two Group F rivals. Kickoff in the capital is next here.
KICKOFF: Spain kick things off in Madrid...
... fairly low-key start to the contest with Spain keeping the ball but not threatening in Sweden's half of the field. Sweden do appear to be in a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 here.
Spain's first serious attack arrives down the right through Carvajal, who delivers a smart pass into Asensio but the attacker cannot find a teammate with Jansson on hand to clear his lines.
Good spell for Sweden in the last couple of minutes with the team in yellow enjoying possession in Spain's half of the field. Quaison actually has a shot from a dangerous position but Inigo Martinez is on hand to make the block. Not sure about the defending there!
Forsberg attempts to go around Ramos in an advanced position but the Real Madrid captain does well to stand strong and regain the ball. Sweden are dangerous here, though.
Parejo delivers a dangerous low cross into the Sweden box but Jansson is on hand to make an excellent block. The resulting corner is delivered by Isco and this time it is Helander who makes the clearance. Spain are just starting to warm up with 10 minutes on the clock.
Carvajal delivers a dangerous cross towards Rodrigo but the offside flag is raised. Spain are certainly on the front foot at the moment although Sweden continue to defend well.
Still goalless with 14 minutes on the clock and we are still waiting for the first real chance of the match. Both teams have carried a threat, though, let's hope it opens up a little bit more.
SAVE! Wonderful save from Olsen to keep out a strike from Ruiz, which was heading for the top corner of the net. Excellent stuff from the Sweden goalkeeper there!
SAVE! Another smart save from Olsen to keep out a powerful strike from Parejo!
SAVE! Yet another save from Olsen to keep out a close-range Ramos attempt. Spain are absolutely all over Sweden at the moment but the away side's goalkeeper is making save after save.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Rodrigo converts from close range to seemingly send Spain ahead. However, the offside flag is raised. It was a wonderful team goal involving Parejo, who delivered the cross.
All happening in the last few minutes as Spain continue to force the issue. Sweden are just starting to deal with the rise in tempo here with the team in red finding all sorts of space.
Pass, pass, pass from Spain as they look to work a way through this Swedish defence. That said, they will also have to beat Olsen who has made a very strong start to this match.
SHOT! Ruiz has been excellent for Spain in the middle of the park thus far, with Sweden finding it difficult to deal with the speed of passing. Asensio has just had a shot from distance but it was always travelling over the Sweden crossbar. Still goalless with 22 minutes on the clock.
YELLOW CARD! Alba (Spain) is booked for dissent after a late challenge.
Some real concern over Claesson here as the number 17 stays down following the challenge with Alba. He eventually rises to his feet but surely cannot continue here.
SWEDEN SUB! Claesson cannot continue and Johansson enters the field.
Sweden are just not seeing any of the ball at the moment as Spain continue to dominate. La Roja look much better with Asensio and Isco either side of Rodrigo, rather than Morata at the tip of the attack. Enrique's side were poor against the Faroe Islands despite picking up the win.
Little under 15 minutes of the first period remaining and we are still goalless here. Spain have been the more threatening in the final third but Olsen has made some smart saves. Nothing for Kepa down the other end, though, with Berg not receiving too much service here.
Carvajal delivers another dangerous cross into the Sweden box but Jansson is on hand to make another wonderful clearance. Sweden's two centre-backs have been good here.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and we are still goalless. Larsson has been bright for Sweden in the last few moments - delivering a couple of dangerous crosses.
SHOT! Ruiz's strike just rises over the Sweden crossbar!
Alba flashes a dangerous cross into the Sweden box but Olsen is on hand to make the claim. The Sweden goalkeeper looks towards Forsberg but the ball comes straight back.
Just a reminder that Kepa is in goal for Spain tonight, which suggests that the Chelsea goalkeeper is now the nation's number one ahead of David de Gea, which will be a huge blow for the Man United stopper, who struggled for form during the 2018-19 campaign.
Carvajal has been bright down the right for Spain but Alba has been fairly quiet down the left, which is a surprise. So far, so good for Sweden as we head for the half-time break here.
Ruiz, who has been impressive for Spain, finds space in a dangerous position down the left but the midfielder cannot find a teammate with a cross. Parejo then takes a tumble outside the Sweden box - no foul, though, and the team in yellow can clear their lines through Ekdal.
Another dangerous moment for Sweden but Olsen manages to clear under pressure from Rodrigo, who had that goal chalked off earlier in the half. Still goalless in the capital.
SHOT! Carvajal drags a low shot wide of the Sweden post.
SHOT! Ramos sends an over-head kick over the Sweden crossbar - it was spectacular!
HALF TIME: SPAIN 0-0 SWEDEN
So there we have it - the referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. There is no question that Spain have been the side on the front foot, but Olsen has made some excellent saves while the likes of Jansson and Helander have impressed at the back.
STATISTICS! Spain had 78% of the possession in the first period, while they managed 12 attempts, with four of those on target. Sweden, meanwhile, managed just two attempts off target. Just the one yellow card to report - La Roja's Alba in the 24th minute for dissent.
BENCH WATCH! Sweden were forced into a first-half change with Johansson taking the place of the injured Claesson. However, the visitors still have the likes of Durmaz, Guidetti, Isak and Svensson in reserve here. Spain, meanwhile, have attacking options in the shape of Aspas, Cazorla and Morata.
KICKOFF: Sweden resume the action here...
Smart block from Ramos to prevent a strike from Augustinsson potentially troubling Kepa, although the effort did appear to be going wide. Decent start to the half from Sweden.
There is no question that Sweden would view a draw as a positive result tonight, but there is still a lot of football to be played before the night is out and Spain have been dangerous here.
Ramos again throws himself at a dangerous corner from Isco, but Sweden manage to clear their lines once again. Ramos first goalscorer anyone? Always seems to be the case!
You do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital here. Sweden are defending well, but everything would change if Spain were to make the breakthrough.
CLOSE! Almost the breakthrough for Spain as Parejo finds Isco with a corner, but the attacker's volley is just over the crossbar. It would have been a stunning goal from the Real Madrid attacker.
SHOT! Carvajal drives down the right before finding Asensio inside the Sweden box, but the attacker cannot turn away from Jansson. Isco then sends a low effort just wide of the post.
Sweden are coming under severe pressure at the moment with Spain causing a number of issues in the final third. Navas is about to enter the field for the home side here.
Sweden cannot get out of their own half at the moment as the pressure continues. Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining and we are still goalless at the Bernabeu.
SHOT! Asensio has a low strike deflected wide of the Sweden post by Lustig.
SAVE! Kepa has to make a decent save to keep out a powerful strike from Quaison.
Navas looked to be entering for Spain some time ago but the change was not made. The pressure from Spain continues with the home side finding a lot of space in the wide areas.
PENALTY! Spain have a penalty as Larsson handles a cross from Asensio!
GOAL! SPAIN 1-0 SWEDEN (RAMOS, PEN)
Nothing dramatic from Ramos, he just sends his effort into the left corner!
SPAIN SUB! Morata replaces Asensio for the home side.
Spain will fancy their chances of going on to score a second and third here with Sweden coming under all sorts of pressure. Still more than 20 minutes of football to play here.
You do get the feeling that Sweden will have to change something in the next few minutes if they are to stand a chance of picking up a positive result here. Indeed, Spain are all over the away side at the moment and a second might well kill the match as a contest.
Spain are preparing to make their second change of the match with 71 minutes played.
SPAIN SUB! Rodrigo is replaced by Oyarzabal for the home side.
Bit of pressure from Sweden in the last couple of minutes with Forsberg delivering two dangerous crosses into the Spain box, but Ramos and Martinez take it in turns to head clear.
Not an awful lot to report in the last few minutes with Spain keeping the ball but not really threatening to find the back of the net. Little under 15 minutes of normal time remaining here.
Morata has really, really struggled to make his mark since entering the field, with another move breaking down through the centre-forward. Sweden are preparing a second change here.
The highly-rated Isak will be the player to come off the Sweden bench in a moment.
SWEDEN SUB! Isak replaces Larsson for Sweden.
Isak shows good pace to drive away from Ruiz in a wide position, but the midfielder gets back to make the challenge. You do get the feeling that something is going to happen late on.
PENALTY! Another penalty for Spain as Helander brings Morata to the ground!
GOAL! SPAIN 2-0 SWEDEN (MORATA, PEN)
Ramos lets Morata take the spot kick and the forward finds the bottom corner for 2-0!
SWEDEN SUB! K Olsen replaces Ekdal in Sweden's final change.
GOAL! SPAIN 3-0 SWEDEN (OYARZABAL)
What a moment! Spain have their third as Oyarzabal - on his competitive debut - collects a pass from Ruiz before finding the bottom corner with a super strike!
SPAIN SUB! Diego Llorente replaces Inigo Martinez for the home team.
Three minutes of additional time have been signalled at the end of the match.
Into the second of the three added minutes and not too much is happening. To be honest, Sweden were beaten when the first goal went in. Spain have been much better tonight.
SHOT! Busquets just misses the Sweden crossbar with an attempt from distance.
FULL TIME: SPAIN 3-0 SWEDEN
So there we have it - the referee brings the second period to a close with Spain running out 3-0 winners over Sweden to move onto 12 points in Group F. It is a job well done for La Roja, who were much the better team tonight and deserved the three-goal success. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again - see you next time!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
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