Italy defended well throughout but never truly looked like getting back into the game after Isco's double in the first half. They struggled to find a way through the Spanish defence after the break and were punished on the counter-attack by Ramos and Morata. In the end, it was a comfortable night for Spain who will surely go on to secure first place in their group. Italy, however, will have to settle for place in the qualifying round.
FULL TIME: SPAIN 3-0 ITALY
90' + 1' The first real clear chance for Italy in this second half. Verratti slides a brilliant pass into the box for Gabbiadini. He shoots first time but de Gea was out to close the gap and blocks it with his chest.
90' The fourth official has indicated two minutes of stoppage time.
David Villa
Isco
89' Final change for Spain. The impressive and influential Isco gives way to David Villa for the last few minutes of the game.
89' It looked like Morata added gloss to the scoreline with a free header into the bottom left of Buffon's goal. Luckily for Italy, he was rightly flagged offside.
88' A free-kick is taken short by Italy to Insigne. He tries a dipping right-footed effort from range but de Gea dives well to his left to catch it.
85' De Rossi tries a first time pass to the left of the pitch but there is no one there to meet it. Poor from the midfielder but sums up how this night has gone for Italy.
83' Back under way with Italy in possession. They look a little deflated after that third goal.
82' Morata is down for treatment after a collision with Leonardo Spinazzola.
M. Gabbiadini
C. Immobile
78' Ciro Immobile comes off in place of Manolo Gabbiadini.
Saúl
Asensio
78' Marco Asensio is replaced by Willemsen Saúl Ñíguez
Sergio Ramos
Assist
77' Sergio Ramos makes a brilliant run down the right wing to support Morata in attack and is there to slide the ball across the box to seal the game for the Spain.
Morata
Goal
77' Game, set and match. Ramos finds himself on the right of the Italian box after a bursting run on the counter-attack. He slides a perfectly weighted pass towards the back post and Alvaro Morata is there to smash it into the roof of the net. 3-0 and surely all three points for Spain now.
74' Isco continues his impressive performance, this time playing the ball into the run of substitute Morata. The Spain striker looks clean through but an Italian defender does well to catch up and muscle him off the ball.
Morata
Andrés Iniesta
72' Andrés Iniesta makes way for Álvaro Morata to a loud round of applause by the Spanish supporters.
F. Bernardeschi
A. Candreva
70' Antonio Candreva night is up as well, as he is replaced by Federico Bernardeschi.
Eder
A. Belotti
70' Italy make their first change. A disappointing night is ended early for Andrea Belotti as Eder Citadin Martins replaces him.
68' Isco shows a brilliant bit of skill to roll the ball through the legs of his marker in the middle of the pitch to drive towards the box. He plays Carvajal in on the right who tries to lob Buffon. The Italy captain sticks up a strong hand to palm the ball away. Spain looking the more threatening side despite not seeing much of the ball this half.
66' It looked like a mountain to climb for Italy and it has proven to be just that so far. They haven't really troubled this Spanish defence yet and Spain are happy to sit back and catch Italy on the counter when the Italians do have possession.
64' A good bit of play by Italy there. Ciro Immobile hits a pass towards the edge of the box, which is dummied by two Italian players before reaching Belotti on the edge of the box. His touch is poor though and it bounces straight to de Gea.
62' Koke then tries an effort from range, rolling the ball onto his right foot before firing it towards the top right. It flies narrowly over the bar but Buffon had it covered.
61' Spain get the ball back after a spell of Italy possession and they are back to moving the ball around fluently and patiently as they try to unlock this Italian defence.
57' No space for Italy at the moment. Spain are happy to camp in their own half as they defend their two goal cushion and Italy are forced to try and play the ball wide.
55' Asensio is in acres of space around 30 yards from goal. He takes the shot on which bounces narrowly wide of the right post.
53' Candreva finds space behind the Spain defence to try and swing a cross into the box but it is cleared away by Koke. The follow up corner from Candreva hits Asensio. It is looped back towards the back post where Bonucci rises to meet it. He beats his marker in the air but doesn't find the target from 5 yards out. He should have at least got that one on target.
51' A couple of long balls from either side fail to find their mark as both teams seeing little space around the centre of the pitch.
48' Straight up the other end and Insigne has space outside the box to shoot. His low effort is saved by de Gea, who parries it straight back into the danger area. The follow up shot is flying off target and Darmian tries to direct the ball back on goal, but it hits Pique and lands in the arms of de Gea.
47' Isco causing problems again. This time he nicks the ball in midfield and runs at the Italian defence. He plays the ball out to Asensio on the left of the box whose low cross is cleared away. Andrea Barzagli then tries to dribble his away out of trouble before conceding a corner, which comes to nothing.
46' Italy get us back under way. They have a mountain to climb if they are to find their way back into this tie.
The players are coming back out onto the pitch, with the start of the second half moments away.
Spain have controlled the game as many had expected with Italy trying to play on the counter-attack. Spain dominated possession throughout but it still took two moments of magic from the impressive Isco to secure their two goal advantage at the break. Italy had a few rare occassions where they threatened the Spanish defence but they were largely snuffed out by the Spanish backline.
HALF TIME: SPAIN 2-0 ITALY
Isco
Goal
40' Isco does it again! Spain pass around the edge of the Italian box, where Iniesta slides the ball to Isco on the edge of the box. He takes the ball around the oncoming Verratii to open up space and fires a low curling effort into the bottom right of the goal and beyond the outstretched arm of Buffon. Brilliant goal from the Real Madrid man.
Andrés Iniesta
Assist
40' Andres Iniesta slides the ball to the right of the box for Isco, who takes it around Verratii to fire low into the bottom right of Buffon's goal.
37' Dani Carvajal finds space inside the right of the Italy box. He has space to shoot but slips as he takes the shot. It deflects off the leg of a defender and beyond Buffon's left post. The following corner comes to nothing.
33' A let off for Italy as Spain almost carve open a good opportunity. More passing play on the edge of the box falls to Andres Iniesta. He spots the run of David Silva in the box and fires in a brilliant through ball. Silva doesn't manage to control the ball properly however and it rolls through to Buffon.
32' Spain with some fast build up play on the edge of the Italy box. The ball arrives to Jordi Alba in space on the left of the box but he gets far too much on his cross and it flies harmlessly wide.
28' De Rossi swings in an inviting cross which is chested by Belotti. Ramos is once again there to clear up the danger with a powerful overhead kick. Impressive defending from the Spain captain.
26' A good chance at the other end following a corner. The initial cross is cleared but the ball is worked back down the right wing for Koke. He finds Gerard Pique in space in the box but he can't direct his header on target.
23' Ramos doing what he does best as he rises in the air ahead of Verratti to clear a dangerous free-kick.
22' Brilliant save! Matteo Darmian finds space on the right again to swing in an inviting cross. Belotti rises to meet it and gets plenty of power on it. It's too close to David de Gea though who reacts well to parry it clear.
21' Italy struggling to get the ball off Spain. Isco tries to turn his marker on the left of the box and eventually ends up fouling him. Italy closing the space down well at the moment but they are struggling to get the ball once Spain get possession.
18' Italy finding space once again down the right wing. This time Matteo Darmian breaks down the right of the box to swing in a cross. He gets too much pace on it though and it easily dealt with by the Spain defence.
15' All to do for Italy now and they come forward through Candreva on the right wing again. His cross is cleared comfortably by Ramos.
Isco
Goal
13' Bonucci is punished for his foul. Isco stands over the free-kick and this time it's bang on target. His right footed effort dips over the wall and perfectly into the left of the goal. No chance for Gianluigi Buffon to reach that. 1-0 Spain.
L. Bonucci
Yellow Card
12' Yellow card for Leonardo Bonucci for a foul on the edge of the box.
11' De Rossi nearly plays himself into trouble on the edge of the Italy box as he tries to chip the ball over the head of a Spain player. It doesn't come off as he intended but luckily Lorenzo Insigne is there to mop it up.
10' Italy with a spell of possession now. They find space on the right-wing but the cross from Antonio Candreva only finds the head of Sergio Ramos.
8' Sergio Ramos takes the free-kick. He gets it over the wall but it flies just over the bar as well.
7' More patient build up play from Spain eventually falls to Koke on the edge of the Italy box. He is pushed over by Daniele De Rossi. A chance from a dangerous position for Spain now.
M. Verratti
Yellow Card
4' Marco Verratti receives the first yellow card of the game, fouling Sergio Busquets in the middle of the pitch.
4' Controlled, early possession play from Spain. Italy are intent on not allowing them the freedom to move the ball around with ease.
2' Spain pressing high early on, forcing Italy to go long.
1' We're off! Spain get us under way, kicking left to right.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
Two changes as well for Italy from the side that beat Liechenstein 5-0 in June. Giorgio Chiellini and Lorenzo Pellegrini being replaced by Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Belotti.
Two changes from the Spain side that beat Macedonia in June. Koke and Marco Asensio come into the side in place of Diego Costa and Thiago Alcantara.
There’s just under 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…
Similarly to Spain, Italy have been on a mission to restore their former high standards in the aftermath of the 2014 World Cup, where they finished third in the group behind Costa Rice and Uruguay. They have been impressive throughout the qualifying campaign and along with Spain, look sure to qualify regardless of tonight’s result.
Spain sit top courtesy of a superior goal difference to tonight’s opponents but there will be more in this tie for Julen Lopetegui’s side. The Spanish were World Cup winners in 2010 and European Cup winners in 2012 but have struggled to make the same impact in the following tournaments, being knocked out at the last-16 stage by tonight’s opponents at the 2016 Euro’s.
Spain and Italy remain the only unbeaten sides in their group at the moment and a win tonight for either side could go a long way to deciding who will top the table. The only game either side have failed to win is against each other, a 1-1 draw in Turin.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of tonight’s European World Cup Qualifier game between Spain and Italy at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Commentary