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Spain national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Sep 5, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Slovakia national football team

2-0

Alba (5'), Iniesta (30' pen.)
FT(HT: 2-0)

Player Ratings: Spain 2-0 Slovakia

Sports Mole takes a closer look at how each player performed during Spain's 2-0 Euro 2016 Group C win at home to Slovakia.

Jordi Alba and Andres Iniesta scored the goals as Spain beat Slovakia 2-0 in their Group C Euro 2016 qualifier on Saturday.

Alba opened the scoring with a close-range header in the fifth minute, before Iniesta struck from the penalty spot after Diego Costa, in the eyes of the referee, had been felled by Matus Kozacik.

Spain have now replaced Slovakia at the top of Group C, but both teams have 18 points from seven matches.

Here, Sports Mole has taken a closer look at how each player performed in Oviedo.


Spain's midfielder Andres Iniesta (L) celebrates with Spain's forward Pedro Rodriguez after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 qualifying football match Spain vs Slovakia at the Carlos Tartiere stadium in Oviedo on September 5, 2015.© Getty Images

SPAIN

Goal

Iker Casillas: Did not have an awful lot to do, but made a couple of excellent saves - including an outstanding stop in the second period. Can be pleased with his overall performance. (7/10)

Defence

Juanfran: Given the nod over Dani Carvajal at right-back and justified the selection with a strong performance. Solid at the back and a threat whenever he broke forward. (7/10)

Gerard Pique: Got caught a little flat-footed when met with pace in wide areas, but was aerially dominant and neat and tidy in possession of the football. (7/10)

Sergio Ramos: Almost cost his team a goal in the early stages after slipping under pressure from Robert Mak, but recovered from that moment to produce a strong performance. (7/10)

Jordi Alba: Had an excellent game down the left. Opened the scoring with a cool header and might have had a couple more in Oviedo. One of Spain's star performers on the night. (8/10)

Midfield

Sergio Busquets: A really classy performance from the Barcelona midfielder. Always had time and space and came ever-so close to scoring late on with a powerful drive. (8/10)

Andres Iniesta: Had a wonderful game in the middle of the park. Scored Spain's second from the penalty spot, but it was his overall control of the midfield that impressed the most. (8/10)

Cesc Fabregas: Played the pass that led to Costa winning Spain's penalty - just one of a number of super balls that the midfielder threaded in Oviedo. Had a strong 67 minutes on the field. (7/10)

Attack

David Silva: Man-of-the-match performance from the Manchester City midfielder, who set up Alba for the first goal of the match. Was quite simply the best player on the pitch. (9/10)

Diego Costa: Won the penalty that led to Spain going 2-0 ahead, but it was not the striker's best game. Touch was a little clumsy and he was replaced for the final 15 minutes by Paco Alcacer. (6/10)

Pedro: Slovakia struggled to deal with the attacker's pace and movement, but his final ball was perhaps a touch disappointing. A good performance, but not one of his best. (7/10)

Substitutes

Santi Cazorla: Would have been disappointed not to have started, but demonstrated his passing ability after replacing Fabregas for the final 20 minutes. (7/10)

Paco Alcacer: Another that is knocking on the door for a start. Costa was named ahead of the Valencia striker here, but he was nice and bright during a 15-minute cameo. (6/10)

Koke: Neat and tidy final five minutes from the outstanding 23-year-old. (6/10)


Andres Iniesta of Spain duels for the ball with Peter Pekarik of Slovakia during the Spain v Slovakia EURO 2016 Qualifier at Carlos Tartiere on September 5, 2015 in Oviedo, Spain.© Getty Images

SLOVAKIA

Goal

Matus Kozacik: Was very unfortunate to be penalised for a challenge on Costa inside the penalty area. Surprisingly, did not have an awful lot to do in terms of actual saves. (6/10)

Defence

Peter Pekarik: Struggled to deal with the pace and movement of the Spain attack in the first period, but improved in the second. Did not have many chances to get forward. (6/10)

Kornel Salata: Used all of his experience to deal with the powerful Costa. Had the physical presence and know-how needed to match-up to Spain's central forward. (7/10)

Tomas Hubocan: Another vastly experienced central defender, Hubocan made some excellent blocks throughout the match and was also strong in the air. Can be pleased with his display. (6/10)

Lukas Tesak: Found Juanfran difficult to handle when his opposing full-back went forward, but like Pekarik on the opposite side, certainly grew into the match after the break. (6/10)

Midfield

Jan Gregus: It was a big ask for the 24-year-old to make a mark on just his second appearance for the national team. Could not get to grips with Spain's midfield talent. (6/10)

Norbert Gyomber: A central defender by trade, but was deployed in the middle of the park here. Worked extremely hard to protect his back four, but it was a tough task against La Roja. (6/10)

Marek Hamsik: Brought a smart save from Casillas in the first period, but struggled to make a serious impression due to a lack of possession. Was replaced just past the hour mark. (6/10)

Attack

Patrik Hrosovsky: Proved a willing runner in the final third of the field, but struggled to get the better of an outstanding Alba. Was replaced in Slovakia's final change of the match. (6/10)

Robert Mak: Was arguably his team's best player in the first period as he occupied Spain's two centre-backs with an energetic performance. Was forced off at the break, however, with an injury. (6/10)

Dusan Svento: Without question one of Slovakia's better performers on the night. Was a constant source of energy down the left and caused a whole host of problems. (7/10)

Substitutes

Michal Duris: Replaced the injured Mak at the interval and proved a live-wire in the final third. Came close to scoring early in the second period - bringing a super save from Casillas. (7/10)

Ondrej Duda: Just 20, the midfielder will have learned a lot from his 30 minutes on the field. Nothing much of note, but showed some nice touches in the final third. (6/10)

Erik Sabo: Given the final 15 minutes or so in Oviedo, but in truth, did not see much of the ball on what was his first competitive appearance for Slovakia. (6/10)


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Andres Iniesta of Spain duels for the ball with Peter Pekarik of Slovakia during the Spain v Slovakia EURO 2016 Qualifier at Carlos Tartiere on September 5, 2015 in Oviedo, Spain.
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Match Analysis: Spain 2-0 Slovakia
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Group A

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2 Hungary Hungary00000
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4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

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1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

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1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

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1 Austria Austria00000
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3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
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Group E

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2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

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3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


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