Marcos Alonso again started against Czech Republic, as he had done last weekend. On that occasion the game was a draw in Prague, this return fixture was a home game for Spain in Malaga and ended in a 2-0 win. Cesar Azpilicueta remained on the bench.After a start to the game without chances, Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon made two saves in quick succession, the second snuffing out an especially good chance on the break.Spain responded to those scares by taking the lead soon after, Valencia’s Carlos Soler scoring midway through the first half.Alonso, able to get forward, then played his part in a swift attack that led to a penalty appeal but despite a VAR check, the referee’s decision to wave play on was upheld. Spain were largely in control as they finished the first half with their single-goal lead.

However, their opponents started the second half strongly and after Sparta Prague’s Jakub Pesek had caught the Spain defence napping, his a lob went close but fell onto the roof of the net.That was not the only pressure the home side faced and Simon was called upon to make another save, but their second goal came with quarter-of-an-hour to go, a sweeping move that led to a tap-in for PSG midfielder Pablo Sarabia. Alonso was withdrawn three minutes later.With the Spaniards having added this victory to two draws and a win away in Switzerland, this result in their fourth game in this group stage takes them to the top of the table.