Spain put on a devastating display to thrash World Cup finalists Croatia 6-0 in the Nations League on Tuesday.
See how the action unfolded at Martinez Valero with our liveblog!
A Saul Niguez header on his return to Elche and two Marco Asensio golazos provided the springboard for Rodrigo Moreno, Sergio Ramos and Isco to inflict Croatia’s heaviest-ever defeat.
Jose Gaya and Dani Ceballos made their senior Spain debuts against Croatia, who lined up with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic in midfield and were World Cup runners-up.
La Roja had won just two of their six previous meetings with the Balkans but did beat England 2-1 at Wembley Stadium in their Nations League opener.
Early Croatian pressure saw David de Gea almost hand them two gifts, but it was shortlived as local lad Saul headed in Dani Carvajal’s rabona cross.
Asensio then stole the spotlight with two long-range drives, first firing home from 20 yards out, before cutting inside from the right and bending one in off the bar.
Lovre Kalinic was already having a torrid time in only his second appearance as Danijel Subasic’s successor between the sticks, and it got worse when Rodrigo slipped a finish through his legs.
If La Roja showed flashes of their attacking potential under Luis Enrique against England, their performance against Croatia was like watching his Barcelona at the peak of their powers.
Even when they eased off, their opponents failed to muster a single attempt on target, whereas Sergio Ramos headed in a corner and Isco blasted home a sixth on the turn after he bamboozled Domagoj Vida with his first touch.
Spain 6-0 Croatia
Saul 24, Asensio 33, 35, Rodrigo 49, Ramos 57, Isco 70
Spain: De Gea; Carvajal (Azpilicueta 75), Nacho, Ramos, Gaya; Ceballos, Busquets (Rodri 59), Saul (Thiago 65); Asensio, Rodrigo, Isco
Croatia: Lovre Kalinic; Vrsaljko (Rog 20), Matej Mitrovic, Vida, Pivaric; Rakitic, Brozovic (Pjaca 62), Kovacic; Modric, Perisic, Santini (Livaja 71)
Referee: Bastien (FRA)
