Spain came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica in their international friendly this evening.
Johan Venegas gave the visitors an early lead when he fired home from Joel Campbell's pass.
It took the hosts less than two minutes to level the scores, as Paco Alcacer raced onto a through ball from Cesc Fabregas and confidently slotted past Keylor Navas.
On the half-hour mark Spain took the lead when Aleix Vidal's cross was helped on by Nolito into the path of Fabregas, who cooly sidefooted home.
The scoreline could have been more flattering for the hosts, but Navas produced a string of great saves to prevent any further goals.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone! The season may be over, but there is no shortage of international football over the summer. It may just be a friendly this evening, but both Spain and Costa Rica will want to produce good performances for the crucial games that await them.
Spain are currently second behind Slovakia in their qualifying group for Euro 2016, but that position will be enough to see them reach the tournament. The two-time holders can further their grip on a place in France by picking up all three points from their clash against Belarus at the weekend.
Costa Rica, meanwhile, are gearing up for next month's Gold Cup which is due to take place in Canada. They have never won the tournament, but many people expect them to be in the mix after their fine displays in last summer's World Cup. Right, the team news is in, so let's have a look at which players will be starting when the match gets underway in Leon.
TEAMS:
SPAIN XI: De Gea, Carvajal, Bartra, Ramos, Bernat, Fabregas, Mikel San Jose, Koke, Aleix Vidal, Nolito, Alcacer
COSTA RICA XI: Navas, Gonzalez, Umana, Celso Borges, Junior Diaz, Gamboa, Miller, Guzman, Venegas, Bryan Ruiz, Campbell
So, that's how our teams will be lining up this evening. It's not a familiar looking Spain side, with a number of their bigger names left out, including all of the Barcelona players that were involved in the Champions League final. There are a couple of experienced internationals, with Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Ramos both starting, while Aleix Vidal is given his international debut, to cap off a fine week in which he completed a move to the Camp Nou.
The Spanish attack is quite interesting too, as Celta Vigo forward Nolito will join Vidal in supporting Valencia striker Paco Alcacer. Meanwhile, Costa Rica have been able to name some of their more established players, with Keylor Navas, Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell all playing.
Spain have had a mixed record in recent months since their World Cup disappointment and they have lost friendlies against France, Germany and the Netherlands. They even lost a Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovakia, but they have won all their other four group games to put themselves in a good position of defending their trophy.
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Costa Rica have not played in any competitive matches since last summer's tournament in Brazil and they had gone unbeaten in seven friendlies up until April. However, their last two games have ended in defeats to American rivals Panama and a Radamel Falcao inspired Colombia.
It's worth remembering that the Costa Ricans beat Italy and Uruguay in the World Cup on their way to a penalty shootout defeat in the quarter-finals to the Netherlands. It has certainly heightened expectations ahead of next month's Gold Cup, and with Jamaica, El Salvador and Canada in the group stages, they should at least make it to the knockout phase.
The players have made their way out onto the pitch and as soon as we hear the national anthems from each team, then the match will be kicking off!
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Estadio Reino de Leon!
Spain have started the match on the front foot and they are seeing plenty of the ball in these early stages. They are getting a lot of space to play it around, with Fabregas already showing some fine touches.
GOAL! Spain 0-1 Costa Rica (Johan Venegas)
Spain may have started well, but it's Costa Rica who lead from their first attack of the match. Campbell shows great pace to get in down the left and he pulls the ball across the box for Venegas to slot a low effort into the corner and out of the reach of De Gea.
GOAL! Spain 1-1 Costa Rica (Paco Alcacer)
It hasn't taken Spain long to respond, as Alcacer quickly draws the European champions back on level terms. It's a fine goal from the Valencia striker, who beats the offside trap and races onto Fabregas' through ball, before slotting a composed finish out of the reach of Navas.
CHANCE! I don't think we have seen the last of the goals in this match and it really has been a great watch so far. Spain could well have had a second here, as the ball drops kindly to San Jose inside the box from a corner, but he ends up smashing his effort high over the bar.
SHOT! The hosts are still seeing all of the possession and they put together another fine move from a counter attack, with Koke being found just outside the box. The midfielder then looks to drill in a low effort, but it lacks the power needed to beat the keeper and is comfortably gathered by Navas.
Spain are playing some fine football this evening and at the moment the Costa Ricans just can't get the ball off them. They look a real danger whenever they come forward and the pace of their attacking players is causing the visitors no end of problems.
Alcacer has made some clever runs this evening and he is almost in behind again when Vidal floats in a pass. This time Navas comes out to claim before he can get to the ball, but he has already shown what he can do in front of goal.
There haven't been too many clear-cut chances since the two goals and the game has settled down a bit. You get the feeling that the Spanish could strike at any moment, as they seem to be waiting to pick out the perfect pass to their forwards.
SHOT! The hosts win a free kick to the right hand-side of the box and they get plenty of men into the box. Instead of going for the cross, Fabregas plays in a low pass that deflects kindly into the path of Vidal on the edge of the box, but his goalbound effort is well blocked by the defence and the visitors manage to clear.
GOAL! Spain 2-1 Costa Rica (Cesc Fabregas)
Spain have been the better team for large spells and now they have come from behind to take the lead. It's another well-worked move, as Vidal gets in down the right before whipping in a cross that Nolito flicks on to Fabregas, who then confidently sidefoots the ball into the bottom corner.
The Spanish really are playing some top stuff at the moment and a third goal looks increasingly likely. They are getting in down the flanks far too easily and this time Koke is able to deliver a wonderful cross from the right, that is just beyond the reach of any of his teammates.
Fabregas is pulling the strings here for Spain and he slides a great ball through to Nolito. The forward looks as if he is through on goal, but Gamboa is there to make a vital tackle and saves his team from falling further behind.
As we edge closer to half time, Costa Rica have seen a bit more of the ball, but they haven't been able to work any chances on goal since the opening five minutes. They have shown their threat on the counter attack and the pace of Campbell has troubled the Spanish defence on more than one occasion.
Even though it's a friendly, we have seen some heavy challenges from the Costa Rican players. This time Vidal is clattered and he has to be helped to the touchline to receive some medical treatment.
We are going to have one minute of stoppage time at the end of this first half. I can also tell you that Vidal has made his way back onto the pitch.
HALF-TIME: Spain 2-1 Costa Rica
We've reached the halfway stage of tonight's match and it's Spain who lead against Costa Rica. Johan Venegas had given the visitors an early lead, but a quick equaliser from Paco Alcacer and a strike from Cesc Fabregas means that Vicente del Bosque's side are in control.
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A quick look at the statistics from the first half shows the dominance of the hosts. Spain have seen a commanding 64% of the ball and they have had seven attempts on goal. Costa Rica have only managed two shots this evening and they have struggled to assert their authority on the match.
We really have seen some wonderful play from Spain this evening and Cesc Fabregas has completely bossed the midfield. It has also been a good night for Paco Alcacer, who has now made it four goals in his first six international games. He will surely face tough competition to start at the weekend, with Alvaro Morata and Pedro in contention, but he has done no harm to his prospects tonight.
Costa Rica take the kick off and get the second half started!
SUBSTITUTION: There has been a change made by the hosts at the break, with Vitolo coming on for Vidal.
Spain have made a good start to the half and they come close to a third when Ramos is picked out at the back post by Koke, before seeing his header well saved by Navas. The flag was actually up against the Real Madrid defender, but it was still a fine stop from his club teammate.
Campbell has been Costa Rica's most lively player this evening and he breaks clear of the Spain defence and runs free down the left. He then cuts inside and tries to get a shot away, but Ramos is back to block him off and shepherd the ball out of play.
There's been no real change in the pattern of play since half time, with Spain still in charge. They seen content to play it around between their midfielders, as the visitors tire themselves out chasing the ball.
YELLOW CARD! Gamoba picks up the first booking of the match for a foul on Nolito.
SAVE! What a fantastic save this is by Navas. The Real Madrid keeper shows great reflexes to push behind a close-range volley from Ramos, when it looked like the defender would surely score a third for Spain.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Spain make a triple change, with Pique, Cazorla and Silva coming on to replace Ramos, Koke and Nolito.
Navas has been forced into action on quite a few occasions since the break and he rushes quickly off his line to clear as Alcacer tried to latch onto a through ball. Without him, the game could already be well out of Costa Rica's reach.
SAVE! I just spoke about how well Navas was playing and he makes another important save. This time Cazorla is found at the back post, but the keeper is out to block his strike and send the ball behind for a corner.
CHANCE! How on earth have Spain not scored here? Silva does brilliantly to drive to the byline down the left and he then pulls the ball back for Bartra. It looks like a simple tap in for the Barcelona defender, but a last-ditch block sees the ball deflect up and just over the bar.
SUBSTITUTION: Costa Rica are going to make their first change of the match, with Vega replacing Venegas.
SUBSTITUTION: It's another change for the visitors, as Bolivar comes on for Guzman.
Vega tries to make an immediate impact as he races into the box to meet a cross from the left. However, he can only plant his header well wide of the post, as De Gea looks on untroubled in the Spain goal once more.
SHOT! The chances continue to flow for Spain and Bartra charges through the midfield before finding Silva on the edge of the box. The Manchester City player then works some room and drills in a low strike, but he hits the ball straight down the middle and comfortably into the gloves of Navas.
SUBSTITUTION: Spain make another change, with Busquets coming on for San Jose.
YELLOW CARD! I did mention that there had been a few tough tackles from the visitors this evening and Borges is the second of their players to be shown a card.
SAVE! Spain are still pressing for a third goal and they put together another spell of passing football, before Fabregas plays the ball out wide for Carvajal. The full back then drives in a powerful shot from a tight angle, but Navas is there to palm the ball behind at his front post.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Another change for the visitors here, as Aguilar comes on for Diaz.
CHANCE! Costa Rica haven't created much in this second half, but they have just wasted a massive chance to level the scores. The substitute Aguilar shows great feet inside the box and he then whips a cross to the back post for Ruiz, who can only volley the ball over the bar from just a few yards out.
SUBSTITUTION: Isco is going to get a few minutes for Spain, with the brilliant Fabregas heading off for a rest.
SHOT! The visitors waste another very decent opening as Campbell is picked out on the edge of the box. He then looks to curl a strike into the far corner, but he gets it all wrong and ends up placing the ball high over De Gea's goal.
SUBSTITUTION: Costa Rica make a late change, with Saborio coming on for Borges.
SHOT! Silva has looked fantastic since his arrival and he shows his class once more by cutting inside from the right and firing in a low strike. It ends up crashing into the side netting, but it was still a fine move from the City player.
We are going to have three minutes of stoppage time.
FULL-TIME: Spain 2-1 Costa Rica
The final whistle blows in Leon, with Spain holding on to earn a 2-1 win this evening. They played some wonderful football and could have easily scored a few more goals and it will certainly give them a boost ahead of their match against Belarus this weekend.
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That's all we've got time for here, but make sure you stick with us for the opening match of the Copa America between Chile and Ecuador which kicks off later this evening. There's also plenty of live international football over the next few days to keep you busy. Until then, goodbye!
