David Raya played 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet in Spain’s 5-0 win over Andorra in a friendly! A resounding victory over Andorra kicked off Spain’s preparations for Euro 2024.

The home team’s Ayoze Pérez scored first, then Mikel Oyarzabal reminded Europe of Spain’s potential with a hat trιck in the twenty-first minute. As Luis de la Fuente’s squad made their intentions known in anticipation of the forthcoming UEFA Euro 2024, Ferran Torres scored Spain’s fifth goal.

Luis de la Fuente’s La Roja played their first of two UEFA Euro 2024 practice matches against Andorra, a team who hadn’t won since a 2-0 road victory over Liechtenstein in September 2022. In a daring match against Brazil that ended in a 3-3 draw, de la Fuente made twelve changes to the starting lineup as his debut senior international competition approached. In preparation for their first match against Croatia on June 15th, the Spanish manager evaluated his alternatives with just Alvaro Morata in the starting lineup from that match.

In addition to Girona FC star Aleix Garcia aiming to make an impression before the competition, Álex Grimaldo of Bayer Leverkusen took Marc Cucurella’s position. Pau Cubarsí, a 17-year-old sensation on the defensive for FC Barcelona, and Daniel Vivian, a player for Athletic Club, started the match in central defense.

As manager Koldo Álvarez had a fully fit Andorran squad to choose from, Els Tricolors’ 30-year-old defender Moisés San Nicolás was allowed to make his 79th appearance.

In the 24th minute, following a solid opening for Andorra, it was Ayoze Pérez of Spain, a former Leicester City player, who volleyed a powerful shot to break the deadlock. The goal energized the home team, and in the 10 minutes following the first goal, Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata had a golden opportunity to extend La Roja’s advantage. However, the referee signaled offside, and Morata’s brilliant strike was disallowed.

In the first half, Andorra made a brave defensive stand as Spain dominated possession but came up empty-handed. Two easy stops were made by Arsenal’s David Raya. At halftime, de la Fuente substituted four players for Álvaro Morata, Pau Cubarsí, Marcos Llorente, and Álex Grimaldo: Mikel Oyarzabal, Robin Le Normand, Jesús Navas, and Marc Cucurella. Andorra made a single substitution, with captain Éric Vales out with an ιnjury. Marc Vales took his place.

Early in the second half, Spain maintained their pressure, and Oyarzabal nearly scored with a headed effort that went just over the crossbar. The second goal came in the 53rd minute as a result of this pressure. Oyarzabal scored from 8 yards out after receiving the ball from Pérez, who finished off a classic Spanish Tiki Taka pass. With their confidence boosted by the second goal, the hosts nearly added a third when Pérez Һit a high shot on a superbly weighted cross from Pedri.

The player for Barcelona would not play again; his teammate Fermín López came on in the 62nd minute to replace him. With a fantastic pass from López to Ferran Torres, Oyarzabal doubled his team’s lead in the 66th minute. With a quick glance to his left, Oyarzabal was poised for a tap-in that no one could miss. After the goal, Aleix Garcia was substituted by Martin Zubimendi.

BADAJOZ, SPAIN – JUNE 05: Alvaro Morata of Spain in action during an International Friendly Match between Spain and Andorra at Nuevo Vivero on June 05, 2024 in Badajoz, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

Oyarzabal scored his hat trιck thanks to further outstanding work from López shortly after de la Fuente gathered his team for the 70th-minute cooling break. The Real Sociedad player received a pass from the 21-year-old, who cut inside and prodded the ball to him. After seeing his first shot stopped, he blasted the rebound home. In the 81st minute, Spain’s lead was extended to 5-0 thanks to a goal by Torres, a former Manchester City winger who had another opportunity to score after receiving an inch-perfect pass from López.