Preview: Spain vs. Ukraine

Defending European champions Spain next face a stubborn Ukraine outfit in their bid to qualify for next year's Euro 2016 finals in France.

Vicente del Bosque's side go into Friday's home match in Seville level on nine points with the visitors and behind Group C leaders Slovakia, who have a 100% record with 12 points from four games.

Spain's shock defeat in Zilina to the Slovakians in September means that they are playing catch-up to win the group and with Slovakia hosting group minnows Luxembourg on Friday, it is unlikely that the Spanish will move to the summit if they see off Ukraine.

The hosts will be confident of victory having not lost any of their last 29 competitive matches on home soil (winning 25, drawing four). They have also won their last two matches against Ukraine.

Del Bosque will be without first-choice striker Diego Costa, who has pulled out with a hamstring strain suffered playing for Chelsea.

Alvaro Morata is likely to lead the line, with David Silva and Pedro possibly the widemen chosen to start either side of the Juventus man.

At the other end of the pitch, Manchester United's David de Gea could oust national captain Iker Casillas between the sticks.

Ukraine, meanwhile, were also beaten by the surprising Slovakians in their opening fixture of qualifying, but have won three games in a row and not conceded a goal since then.

Mikhail Fomenko's only fresh injury concern is that Dynamo Kiev midfielder Sergiy Sydorchuk, who has played in their last three qualifiers, has withdrawn injured.

Spain:

Form in Euro 2016 qualifying: WLWW Form in all competitions: LWLWWL

Possible starting lineup: Casillas; Juanfran, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Fabregas; Pedro, Morata, Silva

Ukraine:

Form in Euro 2016 qualifying: LWWW Form in all competitions: WLWWWD

Possible starting lineup: Pyatov; Fedetskiy, Rakitskiy, Khacheridi, Shevchuk, Stepanenko, Tymoshchuk, Konoplyanka, Yarmolenko, Zozulya, Oliynyk

Sports Mole says: 2-0