Malta vs Spain, 2020 European Championship Qualifying, Group Stage
· UEFA European Championship QualifyingSpain dedicate Malta win to absent manager Luis Enrique
Spain beat highly defensive Malta 2-0 away from home with a goal in each half from Alvaro Morata to move top of their Euro 2020 qualifying group.
Match Timeline
- 0': First Half begins.
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 4': Foul by Steve Borg (Malta).
- 4': Juan Bernat (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 4': Attempt missed. Sergio Ramos (Spain) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Sergio Canales with a cross following a set piece situation.
- 7': Foul by Álvaro Morata (Spain).
- 7': Joseph Zerafa (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 8': Foul by John Mintoff (Malta).
- 8': Mario Hermoso (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 11': Attempt blocked. Sergio Canales (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marco Asensio.
- 12': Foul by Jonathan Caruana (Malta).
- 12': Álvaro Morata (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 16': Attempt missed. Saúl Ñíguez (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
- 18': Attempt missed. Saúl Ñíguez (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
- 19': Foul by Rodrigo (Spain).
- 19': Kyrian Nwoko (Malta) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 20': Offside, Malta. Steve Borg tries a through ball, but Kyrian Nwoko is caught offside.
- 26': Offside, Spain. Sergi Roberto tries a through ball, but Álvaro Morata is caught offside.
- 30': Attempt saved. Álvaro Morata (Spain) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Marco Asensio with a cross.
- 31': Goal! Malta 0, Spain 1. Álvaro Morata (Spain) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mario Hermoso.
- 32': Attempt missed. Saúl Ñíguez (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
- 34': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Joseph Mbong.
- 38': Foul by Kyrian Nwoko (Malta).
- 38': Sergio Ramos (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 40': Attempt missed. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
- 42': Foul by Joseph Mbong (Malta).
- 42': Sergi Roberto (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 42': Attempt missed. Álvaro Morata (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Sergio Canales.
- 45': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Joseph Zerafa.
- 45'+1': First Half ends, Malta 0, Spain 1.
- 45': Second Half begins Malta 0, Spain 1.
- 50': Foul by Juan Bernat (Spain).
- 50': Steve Borg (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 53': Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Álvaro Morata.
- 53': Foul by Steve Borg (Malta).
- 53': Saúl Ñíguez (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 54': Attempt blocked. Sergio Ramos (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 56': Substitution, Spain. Iker Muniain replaces Juan Bernat.
- 57': Attempt missed. Álvaro Morata (Spain) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sergi Roberto with a cross.
- 59': Attempt saved. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
- 60': Foul by Steve Borg (Malta).
- 60': Iker Muniain (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 61': Attempt saved. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
- 61': Attempt blocked. Saúl Ñíguez (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
- 61': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Zach Muscat.
- 62': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Jonathan Caruana.
- 63': Foul by Juan Corbalan (Malta).
- 63': José Gayá (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 63': Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mario Hermoso.
- 65': Attempt missed. José Gayá (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
- 65': Substitution, Spain. Jesús Navas replaces Saúl Ñíguez.
- 65': Substitution, Malta. Rowen Muscat replaces Joseph Mbong.
- 67': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Juan Corbalan.
- 67': Attempt missed. Álvaro Morata (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sergio Canales with a cross following a corner.
- 69': Foul by Mario Hermoso (Spain).
- 69': Rowen Muscat (Malta) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 70': Substitution, Malta. Michael Mifsud replaces John Mintoff.
- 70': Foul by Steve Borg (Malta).
- 70': Mario Hermoso (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 72': Foul by Juan Corbalan (Malta).
- 72': Sergio Canales (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 72': Juan Corbalan (Malta) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 73': Goal! Malta 0, Spain 2. Álvaro Morata (Spain) header from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Jesús Navas with a cross.
- 75': Offside, Malta. Kyrian Nwoko tries a through ball, but Michael Mifsud is caught offside.
- 77': Attempt saved. Sergio Ramos (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
- 79': Substitution, Spain. Rodrigo Moreno replaces Álvaro Morata.
- 80': Offside, Spain. Sergio Canales tries a through ball, but Jesús Navas is caught offside.
- 83': Foul by Sergio Canales (Spain).
- 83': Paul Fenech (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 84': Delay in match because of an injury Jonathan Caruana (Malta).
- 85': Substitution, Malta. Karl Micallef replaces Jonathan Caruana because of an injury.
- 85': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 86': Attempt missed. Sergio Canales (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
- 89': Foul by Sergio Ramos (Spain).
- 89': Joseph Zerafa (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 89': Attempt saved. Kyrian Nwoko (Malta) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
- 90'+1': Foul by Rodrigo Moreno (Spain).
- 90'+1': Steve Borg (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+2': Attempt missed. Michael Mifsud (Malta) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Juan Corbalan.
- 90'+3': Attempt saved. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
- 90'+3': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Zach Muscat.
- 90'+4': Corner, Spain. Conceded by Karl Micallef.
- 90'+5': Attempt missed. Sergio Ramos (Spain) header from very close range is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Mario Hermoso with a headed pass following a corner.
- 90'+5': Second Half ends, Malta 0, Spain 2.
- 90'+5': Match ends, Malta 0, Spain 2.
Statistics
 ESP |
MLT |
|
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Fouls | 10 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 2 | Offsides | 2 |
| 7 | Corner Kicks | 0 |
| 1 | Saves | 5 |
| 83.5 | Possession | 16.5 |
| 23 | SHOTS | 2 |
| 7 | ON GOAL | 1 |
| 0.3 | On Target % | 0.5 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 875 | Accurate Passes | 112 |
| 949 | Passes | 191 |
| 0.9 | Pass Completion % | 0.6 |
| 8 | Accurate Crosses | 0 |
| 30 | Crosses | 0 |
| 0.3 | Cross % | 0.0 |
| 65 | Long Balls | 50 |
| 52 | Accurate Long Balls | 17 |
| 0.8 | Long Balls % | 0.3 |
| 5 | Blocked Shots | 0 |
| 11 | Effective Tackles | 5 |
| 12 | Tackles | 11 |
| 0.9 | Tackle % | 0.5 |
| 7 | Interceptions | 13 |
| 3 | Effective Clearances | 31 |
| 3 | Clearances | 31 |
Game Information
Competition: UEFA European Championship Qualifying
Venue: Ta' Qali National Stadium
Location: Attard, Malta
Attendance: 16,542
Venue: Ta' Qali National Stadium
Location: Attard, Malta
Attendance: 16,542
EURO Qualifying Table
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium | 8 | +18 | 20 |
| 2 | Austria | 8 | +10 | 19 |
| 3 | Sweden | 8 | +2 | 10 |
| 4 | Azerbaijan | 8 | -10 | 7 |
Line-Ups
Malta (4-5-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Henry Bonello (GK) |
| 22 | Zach Muscat |
| 2 | Jonathan Caruana |
| 19 | Joseph Zerafa |
| 4 | Steve Borg |
| 8 | Paul Fenech |
| 15 | Juan Corbalan  |
| 6 | Matthew Guillaumier |
| 7 | Joseph Mbong |
| 16 | John Mintoff |
| 10 | Kyrian Nwoko |
Spain (4-3-3)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 13 | Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK) |
| 12 | Mario Hermoso |
| 15 | Sergio Ramos |
| 3 | José Gayà |
| 20 | Sergi Roberto |
| 16 | Rodri |
| 6 | Saúl Ñíguez |
| 11 | Sergio Canales |
| 7 | Álvaro Morata |
| 14 | Juan Bernat |
| 10 | Marco Asensio |
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