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Friendly international

Spain 3 - Uruguay 1

Spain started the new year as they ended the last, a 3-1 win over South American champions Uruguay in Doha setting them up for the World Cup qualifiers next month. For the first time in years the injured Casillas was not in the squad, but Puyol returned to make his 100th appearance for his country, and new boys Azpilicueta, Isco and Mario Suárez were all given a run out by Del Bosque. Things went their way early on when a seemingly harmless long shot by Fàbregas went through the hands of Muslera in to the net, and a few minutes later Puyol had a strike ruled out for a borderline offside. Atlético Madrid's Cristian Rodríguez levelled the scores before half time after Cáceres put him through, but seven minutes after the restart Busquets won the ball in midfield and played the ball across for Piqué to set up Pedro for Spain's second. Valdés (one of nine Barcelona players to participate in the match) did well to keep out Cavani a few minutes later, but David Villa curled a shot wide before combining with Fàbregas to set up another all-Barça goal for Pedro, his fifth in the last three matches for his country. Uruguay gave up, and Villa, Isco and Negredo could all have added to the scoreline later on. (06.02.13)