Spain beat Albania 0-2 in their third group game, the result taking Julen Lopetegui’s side back to the top of their mini-league, ahead of Italy on goal difference. The East Europeans had won their opening two matches, and they set out their stall early on, with a packed midfield and Balaj as the lone striker up front. As a result De Gea was a mere spectator for almost all of the ninety minutes, and Spain clocked up over 75% possession in the first half. Berisha kept out Diego Costa, Vitolo and Koke though, and at the break the scores were still level. However some ten minutes in to the second half Vitolo intercepted a poor clearance by the local keeper, and he passed through for David Silva to roll the ball across the area for Costa to score. Lopetegui (who started with a three man defence) brought on Nolito, and within three minutes he added a second, cutting in past Hysaj to beat Berisha with an angled shot. That just about wrapped things up, and Silva and Sergio Ramos went close again before Ramos limped off with a knee injury near the end. A good start for the new coach, and Spain have now gone 56 games without defeat in World Cup qualifiers, the last time they lost being against Denmark in Copenhagen way back in March 1993! (09.10.16)