Here is a brief summary of events, goalscorers & final result.
Spain starting XI line up vs Malta:
Pau Lopez; Jesus Navas, Albiol, Ramos, Bernat; Rodri, Thiago, Cazorla; Sarabia, Gerard Moreno & Alvaro Morata
As expected with Malta last in the Group table & the least strong, Spain dominated all the match with the visitors putting up an ultra defensive line-up. There was up to 6 defenders in-line as Malta hopped to avoid a scandalous result & if lucky find a counter-attack that may have lead to a goal.
Malta held out the best they could most of the 1º st half only “halting” Spain down to two goals up to the 45th min.
However, the 2º half was a completely different game with Spain scoring another 5 goals. Two Spanish players debuted in the 2º half; defender PAU TORRES (Villarreal) & DANI OLMO (Dynamo Zagreb) with both scoring a goal in their debut. Good match played by Cazorla (also scored) & Gerard Moreno ( assisted on various occasions & scored a goal).
The final result could have been greater in favour of Spain but they missed more than a dozen goal opportunities, including a disallowed off-side & a post.
FINAL RESULT: SPAIN 7 – MALTA 0
Goalscorers:
1 – 0 (23´) Alvaro Morata
2 – 0 (41′) Santi Cazorla
3 – 0 (62′) Pau Torres
4 – 0 (63′) Pablo Sarabia
5 – 0 (69′) Dani Olmo
6 – 0 (71′) Gerard Moreno
7 – 0 (85′) Jesus Navas
Next Group match for Spain next Monday in Madrid against Rumania.