Malta v Spain - As it happened
Join us for live coverage of the Euro 2020 qualifier between Malta and Spain!
Match report in news
End of match
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94'FT: Malta 0-2 Spain - A very low-key encounter is brought to an end. The visitors take all three points though, thanks to two goals from Alvaro Morata, who has certainly taken his chance to impress. Jesus Navas also looked strong when coming on as a substitute.
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92'That looks like that'll be that. 2-0 is a fairly respectable scoreline for Malta given the quality of opposition they've come up against.
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90'FOUR minutes added on. Don't know where all those came from.
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89'Jesus Navas has impressed since coming on, he's been a constant menace down the right.
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87'MALTA CHANCE - They've had a shot! Substitute Mifsud launches a shot at goal from about 40 yards out. Unfortunately it flies well over. Would have been a good conversion in rugby.
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83'Malta just havent been able to get out of their own half all game.
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80'Today's star man Alvaro Morata departs the field and is replaced by Rodrigo Moreno.
Goaaaaaal!
de España en el 73'
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Statistics of Á. Morata in Clasificación Eurocopa640.67000
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73'GOOOAAALL FOR SPAIN!! Jesus Navas shows he's still got it by delivering an inch-perfect cross straight onto Morata's head. He makes no mistake and plants his header into the net. Game over.
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68'Maltese right-winger Mintoff is taken off, with Mifsud replacing him.
Substitution
at España
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65'Malta also make a change, with Mbong being replaced by Muscat.
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65'Jesus Navas makes a long-awaited return to the Spain side as he comes on for Niguez.
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63'SPAIN CHANCE - Well, double chance really. Asensio sees a shot saved by Bonello, but it's only pushed away to the feet of Saul, who sees his close-range effort blocked out for a corner.
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59'SPAIN CHANCE - Marco Asensio goes for goal from just inside the area but his shot is well saved by Bonello.
Substitution
at España
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56'Spain make the first change of the game as Athletic Bilbao man Muniain comes on for Bernat, who seemed to have taken a knock in the first half.
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53'SPAIN CHANCE - Ramos goes for goal with a free-kick, but his effort flies wide.
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49'The second half has begun as the first ended. Spain attack, Malta defend.
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46'And we're back underway!
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45'HT: Malta 0-1 Spain - A fairly uneventful affair, with a well-taken Alvaro Morata strike from a long ball the difference between the two sides.
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43'Nothing has happened ever since the goal. Malta are yet to have a shot or corner. Let's hope that improves in the second half.
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38'1-0 might not be such a bad result for Malta. It would certainly beat that 12-1 they suffered in 1983.
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34'Malta don't look like coming back into this, although a goal from them would certainly make the tie interesting.
Goaaaaaal!
de España en el 31'
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Statistics of Á. Morata in Clasificación Eurocopa640.67000
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31'GOOOOAAALL FOR SPAIN!! Morata latches onto a long ball and hits a left footed strike between Bonello's legs. Route one stuff. It's true, this Spain side has changed!
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29'SPAIN CHANCE - Morata rises to head a cross from the right towards goal, but Malta goalkeeper Bonello catches.
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27'But when Spain do burst forward Malta defend incredibly deep. It's not often you see an entire team camped inside their own penalty area.
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24'It seems not, we're back to walking pace.
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20'Can Spain build on that promising little spell?
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17'SPAIN CHANCE - Oh dear! Sergi Roberto slips in Saul, who inexplicably fires over from near the penalty spot. The goal was gaping.
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15'SPAIN CHANCE - At last, something's happened. Saul bursts through Malta's midfield and slams a shot just wide from the edge of the area. Better from the visitors.
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12'Still no breakthrough for Spain. They've struggled to even create a chance yet.
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8'Malta's Nwoko was almost through then, but Spain's Hermoso made a good last-ditch tackle.
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5'At about 35%, Malta have actually enjoyed more possession than you'd expect. They even had a free-kick just then. Admittedly it was inside their own half.
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3'A packed stadium for today's game. You can tell this one means a lot for the Maltese population.
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1'And we're off!
Start of match
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PRVWSpain famously beat Malta 12-1 in a qualifier for Euro 1984. Will something similar happen today or will Malta pull off one of the all-time great international shocks? We're about to find out...
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PRVWWell that's useful, we can all have a good sing along now.
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PRVWA big day for a number of the Spanish team then, who will be looking to use today to impress Enrique.
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PRVWThe Spanish squad as they made their way from their team hotel to the coach...
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PRVWAlthough, of course, the Spain manager isn't actually here in person. He's had to return home due to 'family problems'.
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PRVWA number of unfamiliar faces in that line-up, with the likes of Kepa, Hermoso, Gaya, Canales and Bernat all relative newcomers to the side. A day of experimentation for Luis Enrique, it seems.
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PRVWBut our away team does, so without further ado, here is how Spain line up this evening: Kepa; Sergi Roberto, Ramos, Hermoso, Gayà; Rodrigo, Canales, Saúl; Bernat, Asensio, Morata.
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PRVWMalta's national team doesn't really have a Twitter account so I can't attach much here...
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PRVWTime for some team news, starting with our hosts, Malta: Bonello; Mbong, Muscat, Caruana, Borg, Zerafa; Guillaumier, Fenech, Corbalan, Mintoff; Nwoko.
Pre-match
26 March 2019, 20:45
Referee: Andrew Dallas
Stadium: Ta'Qali National Stadium
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PRVWHello and welcome to our live coverage of the Euro 2020 qualifier between Malta and Spain!