Spain take control to send Italy towards play-offs

Isco had only scored three international goals before the Italy game
Isco scored twice as a scintillating Spain beat Italy at the Bernabeu to take a huge step towards qualifying for the World Cup from Group G.

The Real Madrid playmaker curled home a free-kick and then smashed in a second as Spain named no recognised striker.

Chelsea's Alvaro Morata came on to add a third from Sergio Ramos' cross.

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Italy, who had not lost a qualifier since 2004, trail Spain by three points with a much worse goal difference and are likely to be in the play-offs.

Only the winners of each group qualify directly for Russia, with the eight best ranked second-placed teams playing off.

Relive the action as it happened
The Azzurri are still four points above third-placed Albania, who beat Liechtenstein 2-0.

Macedonia beat Israel 1-0 in the group's other match.

Ukraine are top of Group I following a 2-0 win over Turkey, new Borussia Dortmund striker Andriy Yarmolenko scoring both goals.

Croatia, who are one point behind them, have a game in hand - after their match with Kosovo was abandoned at 0-0 in the first half because of a waterlogged pitch. No new date for that game has been set.

behind Croatia on goal difference, lost 1-0 to

Incessant rain made the Balkan derby unplayable in Zagreb, with a new date needed for the game
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups

Spain
1de Gea
2Carvajal
3Piqué
15Ramos
18Alba
8Koke
5Busquets
6IniestaSubstituted forMorataat72'minutes
22IscoSubstituted forVillaat89'minutes
21Silva
20AsensioSubstituted forÑíguezat78'minutes
Substitutes
4Nacho
7Villa
9Morata
10Thiago Alcántara
11Pedro
12Ñíguez
13Arrizabalaga
14Deulofeu
16Monreal
17Azpilicueta
19Iago Aspas
23Reina
Italy
1Buffon
4Darmian
15Barzagli
19BonucciBooked at 12mins
7Spinazzola
6CandrevaSubstituted forBernardeschiat70'minutes
8VerrattiBooked at 4mins
16De Rossi
10Insigne
11ImmobileSubstituted forGabbiadiniat78'minutes
9BelottiSubstituted forÉderat70'minutes
Substitutes
2Conti
3D'Ambrosio
5Rugani
12Donnarumma
13Astori
14Pellegrini
17Éder
18Parolo
20Bernardeschi
21Perin
22El Shaarawy
23Gabbiadini
Referee :
Björn Kuipers
Match Stats

Home TeamSpain Away TeamItaly
Possession
Home 55%
Away 45%
Shots
Home 12
Away 8
Shots on Target
Home 4
Away 4
Corners
Home 4
Away 1
Fouls
Home 14
Away 10
Live Text

Posted at
Match ends, Spain 3, Italy 0.

Full Time
Posted at 90'+3'
Second Half ends, Spain 3, Italy 0.

Posted at 90'+3'
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Leonardo Spinazzola.

Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt saved. Manolo Gabbiadini (Italy) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marco Verratti with a through ball.

Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Daniel Carvajal (Spain).

Posted at 90'+1'
Marco Verratti (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'
Attempt missed. Álvaro Morata (Spain) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Sergio Busquets.

Substitution
Posted at 89'
Substitution, Spain. David Villa replaces Isco.

Posted at 89'
Offside, Spain. David Silva tries a through ball, but Álvaro Morata is caught offside.

Posted at 88'
Attempt saved. Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Daniele De Rossi.

Posted at 87'
Hand ball by Saúl Ñíguez (Spain).

Posted at 84'
Foul by Saúl Ñíguez (Spain).

Posted at 84'
Marco Verratti (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 83'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 82'
Delay in match Álvaro Morata (Spain) because of an injury.

Posted at 82'
Delay in match Leonardo Spinazzola (Italy) because of an injury.

Posted at 82'
Attempt missed. Sergio Ramos (Spain) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Koke.

Posted at 81'
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Leonardo Spinazzola.

Posted at 79'
Saúl Ñíguez (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted a