Having both opened their Euro 2024 qualifying campaigns with 3-0 wins, Scotland and Spain clash in a top-of-the-table battle in Group A on Tuesday night.

Steve Clarke's side hit Cyprus for three in their opening battle, while the Luis de la Fuente era for Spain began with a comfortable success over Norway.

Match preview

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As has been the case throughout his season with Manchester United as well, Scott McTominay started on the bench during Scotland's meeting with Cyprus at Hampden Park, but the midfielder made his presence felt and then some after being introduced.

Fellow Premier League midfielder John McGinn had drawn first blood at the back post from Andrew Robertson's deflected cross, and McTominay proceeded to come up with a late brace to put the tie to bed, before salt was rubbed into Cyprus' wounds with a red card for Nikolas Ioannou.

Despite overseeing a richly-deserved win on home soil, Clarke was quick to demand more from his players for the imminent visit of Spain, as Scotland aim to fortify Hampden Park some more following a four-game winning run on home soil.

In that time, the hosts have scored 10 goals while conceding just one in triumphs over Armenia, Ireland, Ukraine and Cyprus, and their Euro qualifying winning streak now stands at an eye-catching six games since a 4-0 loss to Russia in 2019.

Granted, two of those victories did come via a penalty shootout against Israel and Serbia, and it has been 17 years since Scotland last opened a major tournament qualifying campaign with two successive wins - sinking the Faroe Islands and Lithuania before stunning France in 2006.

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A meaty yet unpunished challenge on Martin Odegaard from Premier League title rival Rodri may have made the most headlines during Spain's success over Norway, but having somehow escaped conceding a penalty, La Roja put their Nordic neighbours to the sword with aplomb.

Dani Olmo's neat flick broke the deadlock for Spain during the first 45, and in strikingly similar fashion to Scotland's win over Cyprus, a late brace from a substitute with Premier League connections ensured an emphatic margin of victory for those in red.

As dreams debuts go, ex-Newcastle United and current Espanyol attacker Joselu experienced the true meaning of one, as the 32-year-old netted a double off the bench to get De la Fuente's stint in the hotseat off to a flyer.

With nothing to separate Spain and Scotland in the points or goals columns, the 2008 and 2012 European champions currently occupy first place courtesy of their better disciplinary record, and La Roja now have the chance to go 20 games unbeaten in Euro qualifying since a shock loss to Slovakia in 2014.

Since posting a 3-1 win over their Iberian adversaries during World Cup qualifying in 1984, Scotland have failed to win any of their last five meetings with Spain, who won a David vs. David battle 3-1 in 2011 - David Silva's brace and David Villa's strike rendered a David Goodwillie penalty inconsequential.

Team News

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Celebration soon turned to concern at Hampden Park on Saturday, as Che Adams limped off injured just before the hour mark, and the Southampton striker has since pulled out alongside right-back Anthony Ralston - Lawrence Shankland has replaced the former.

The hosts are otherwise in good shape for the visit of Spain, who should come up against the unmistakeable presence of Lyndon Dykes in the number nine spot following Adams's withdrawal.

Dykes set up the first of McTominay's two goals against Cyprus, and the Man United lynchpin has surely played his way back into the first XI - the same can possibly also be said for Ryan Christie in an advanced role.

Meanwhile, Spain came through their opening win over Norway unscathed, but Joselu's quickfire double is unlikely to be enough to displace newly-appointed captain Alvaro Morata.

Both of Iago Aspas and Gavi were taken off before the hour last time out, and the former in particular could be at risk of losing his place to Fabian Ruiz, who set up Joselu's first goal on the night.

Aspas's 58-minute cameo against Norway was the Celta Vigo veteran's first start in a Spain jersey since 2019, but De la Fuente will not take sentiment into account with points on the line.

In fact, the Spain boss is said to be considering a multitude of changes for this contest, with Pedro Porro and Jose Gaya in line to come into the full-back areas.

Scotland possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Hanley, Porteous, Tierney; Hickey, McGregor, McTominay, Robertson; McGinn, Christie; Dykes

Spain possible starting lineup:
Arrizabalaga; Porro, Fernandez, Laporte, Gaya; Merino, Rodri, Ceballos; Williams, Morata, Gavi

We say: Scotland 1-2 Spain

Spain's three-goal success over Norway was nowhere near as comfortable as the scoreline made out, and had Erling Braut Haaland been fit and firing, La Roja would have been unlikely to come away with a clean sheet after conceding a multitude of chances.

A Scotland side with a taste for goals can trouble the Roja backline further, but getting one over De la Fuente's men should still be a bridge too far for the boys in blue.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Ben Knapton

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