Spain became the first team at Euro 2016 to score three goals in a game as they eased into the next round with a win over Turkey, Alvaro Morata netting twice.
Nolito scored the only goal as Spain dispatched Fatih Terim’s side with little trouble, Andres Iniesta dictating play from the middle of the pitch with precision and panache, perhaps one of his all-time best international performances.
Vicente del Bosque named an unchanged XI to play Turkey from the side that started Euro 2016 with a win over Czech Republic, the first time in 52 internationals that the Coach had picked the same team for consecutive games, while the Crescent-Stars were again captained by Barcelona’s Arda Turan and drafted in Burak Yilmaz for Cenk Tosun.
Spain dominated the first half in Nice, despite Sergio Ramos' booking in just the second minute, with Turkey's only chance coming from a Hakan Calhanoglu free kick, which the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder swung marginally over the goalkeeper's bar.
Nolito was La Roja's most dangerous player in that time, and he attempted a shot from just outside Turkey's D and bent it inches wide of Volkan Babacan's goal, before Cesc Fabregas wrongly nodded Sergio Busquet's clipped through ball back to Nolito instead of attacking it.
Indeed, the Celta Vigo star was involved in Spain's first goal as he picked out Morata to perfection from a cross, the striker simply guiding it with his head past Babacan. It was a timely reminder to those who criticised his performance against Czech Republic last week.
Hapless defending from Mehmet Topal then saw the makeshift defender cushion Fabregas' chipped pass straight to Nolito, who hit the ball first time past an exposed Babacan.
The goalkeeper got no better protection minutes into the second half when Iniesta split the defence in front of him to set an offside Jordi Alba clear, and the left-back squared to give Morata a straightforward finish and become the first player at the tournament to score twice in a game.
Burak Yilmaz threatened to disrupt the Spanish procession but though Turkey reacted well to going three goals down, it was too little too late and David Silva went just as close to a fourth Spain goal.
Bruno Soriano drew a save from Babacan while any touch of the ball by Turkey captain Arda Turan saw the Barcelona midfielder booed by sections of his own support.
The game, over as a contest in the first half, petered out into a comfortable Spain win, the defence of the European Championship trophy looking in good health.
Spain 3-0 Turkey
Morata 34, Nolito 37, 48
Spain: De Gea; Juanfran, Pique, Ramos, Alba (Azpilicueta 81); Busquets, Cesc (Koke 70), Iniesta; Silva (Bruno 64), Morata, Nolito
Turkey: Babacan; Gonul, Topal, Balta, Erkin; Tufan, Inan (Malli 70), Ozyakup (Sahan 62); Calhanoglu (Sahin 46), Yilmaz, Turan
Referee: Mazic [SER]
