David Silva has scored a goal for Spain! Assist by Nolito.
The assist was Nolito's, with a stunning volleyed lay-off. Magnificent.
GOAL! They couldn't keep Silva down for long, though! He thumps inside the near post. The City man has grown into this own superbly.
89'
OFFSIDE! This is magical from Silva, who thinks he has a second. Dancing inside and taking the pass back from Koke, he slips a finish under Jehle. The goal, though, as Koke is blocking the goalkeeper's view. However, it looked as though the midfielder might have been onside.
88'
SAVE! Liechtenstein's defensive line is all over the place, and Morata's in again. He blasts towards goal, but Jehle brilliantly blocks. Much better from the goalkeeper.
87'
POST! Spain are trying for more. Nolito pokes through for Silva, who rattles the near post. So close.
85'
Jehle smothers a long ball to relieve some pressure, but it's been an agonising couple of minutes after a solid prior performance.
84'
R. Gubser enters the game and replaces M. Büchel.
Martin Buchel has hardly seen the ball in midfield, and on comes Robin Gubser.
83'
Álvaro Morata has scored a goal for Spain! Assist by Sergio Busquets.
It's Busquets who tees up Morata this time. Far too easy for Spain.
GOAL! The roof has fallen in for Jehle. Two in as many minutes for Morata. It's a tame strike but finds its way through.
82'
Álvaro Morata has scored a goal for Spain! Assist by Nolito.
A lovely passing move from Silva, Asensio and then Nolito allowed Morata space to shoot.
GOAL! Jehle will be frustrated not to keep that one out. Beaten at his near post, but Morata's was a fine strike after chopping away from Yildiz.
81'
Twice Liechtenstein almost had a sight of goal there, but Pique was on hand to step in and take control. Roberto cannot get on the end of a ball at the other end.
Minute
Description
80'
Marco Asensio enters the game and replaces Vitolo.
Vitolo has been bright, and has a goal to show for it. He's replaced by Marco Asensio.
79'
Roberto seemingly has no set position. He sprints into the heart of the penalty area and causes havoc. The ball pops up for Nolito, who volleys over.
78'
S. Wolfinger enters the game and replaces D. Salanović.
Salanovic had been bright earlier on, but faded as his team mates started to struggle. Here's Sandro Wolfinger.
76'
S. Yildiz gets yellow.
Morata burns away from Polverino, but Yildiz closes is in to trip the Real Madrid man. He continues, but the referee calls the play back and cards the substitute. Ramos' free-kick is too high.
74'
Morata isn't happy, he wants a penalty. Another heading opportunity, flicked wide, but he claims he was being held. That was optimistic, to say the least.
73'
SAVE! One of the easier stops for Jehle. Morata nods on Ramos' cross, but it's straight at the goalkeeper.
71'
S. Yildiz enters the game and replaces M. Rechsteiner.
From the set-piece, Koke, winding up from distance, volleys wide.
Martin Rechsteiner clumsily presented the ball to Nolito for the fourth goal, and he's replaced by Seyhan Yildiz.
70'
Are Spain content with five? They're passing the ball around confidently, but lacking the same urgency they had previously shown. Alba does force a corner on the left, though.
69'
Álvaro Morata enters the game and replaces Diego Costa.
No hat-trick for Diego Costa. He's replaced by Alvaro Morata.
66'
Diego Costa has scored a goal for Spain!
GOAL! Awful from Polverino, who bizarrely leaves Costa all alone to turn and shoot. Jehle blocks the first effort, but Costa nods in the second. It's five.
65'
Busquets tries his luck from distance, but the strike is a long, long way off target. Spain have earned the opportunity to try for the spectacular now, though.
64'
Poor Peter Jehle must be incredible frustrated. His defenders have too often opted against the simple, allowing Spain to pick them off. He now intercepts from Silva.
63'
CLOSE! Costa should do better here. Roberto again worries the visitors with a run down the right, laying off for Silva. His pass is blocked but falls for Costa, who lashes the bouncing ball wide of the near post.
62'
Salanovic was bright in the first half, but his maiden second half wander comes to nothing as he overcomplicates things.
60'
Vitolo has scored a goal for Spain! Assist by David Silva.
Silva returned the favour by laying off Vitolo for this goal, but he owed much to Nolito's pass and Costa's control in the build-up.
GOAL! This is a rout. It's all fallen apart for Liechtenstein, and this is a simple finish for Vitolo into an empty net at the end of a fine passing move.
59'
David Silva has scored a goal for Spain! Assist by Vitolo.
Vitolo teed up Silva for that strike, with the Liechtenstein defence standing still.
GOAL! Those floodgates sure look open. Silva has not been at his best tonight, but he cannot miss from two yards. Except he almost does - rattling the bar en route to goal.
57'
Roberto is everywhere now! Jehle cut out Nolito's attempted ball moments earlier, but the Barcelona man should have been through on goal as he darted into space on the right. The pass to him, though, was poor.
55'
Sergi Roberto has scored a goal for Spain! Assist by Nolito.
It was Nolito who threaded the pass through for Roberto. Only on at half-time, he's made a difference.
GOAL! What was Sergi Roberto doing there? Running from deep on the left, he prods low through Jehle's legs. A fine finish. Will the floodgates open now?
53'
Spain are piling the pressure on now. They certainly look like a side that realise their first half efforts were not good enough.
51'
N. Hasler gets yellow.
WOODWORK! Hasler is booked for a lunge on Sergio Busquets, allowing Koke a strike at goal from the free-kick. His effort is fine and true, but hits the post.
50'
Liechtenstein certainly look confident enough to pass the ball around at the back. So far, so good, but Spain are ready to pounce on any errors.
48'
SAVE! Sublime goalkeeping! Silva runs clear, chops back and attempts to sit Jehle down by shifting the ball left before shooting. However, Jehle dives onto the ball, twice pushing it clear and the chance is gone.
47'
Vitolo, unlike his team mates, has been very bright. Another fine dribble on the right gives him space to cross, but it's too close to Jehle.
46'
Nolito enters the game and replaces Thiago Alcântara.
Thiago was among the more impressive Spain players in the first half, but he makes way for Nolito.
Liechtenstein get the game back under way!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: Spain 1-0 Liechtenstein.
45'
Liechtenstein end the half in fine fettle, building up towards the Spanish half, and then snuffing out the counter by winning a free-kick. They have kept their much-fancied hosts at bay for the majority of this opening period.
43'
CLOSE! Vitolo has seemingly learned that he will have to find Costa with his passing, rather than the other way around. He jinks wide to cross onto the Chelsea man's head, but he nods wide after belatedly making an effort to reach the delivery.
40'
SCRAMBLE! Kaufmann does brilliantly to take the ball from Ramos' head, but concedes another corner. It's played out to Koke, who, after miskicking at first, lashes towards the corner. The ball is blocked away, and Jehle jumps at Alba's knee, before Busquets then has a go and it's cleared again. Incredible.
38'
Despite the goal, Costa has looked sluggish tonight. Again he reacts slowly to a pass, this time Koke's, and Liechtenstein mop up.
37'
There'll be a short stoppage now, as Franz Burgmeier - the most experienced player in blue - goes down. He receives treatment, but is soon back on his feet.
35'
A corner for Liechtenstein! Salanovic, the danger man, dummies to beat Alba, and Ramos has to come across to close him down. Costa clears the initial delivery, though, before the second picks out an offside forward.
Spain are attacking again right away. Vitolo hits the byline, but Costa is again slow to react, allowing Peter Jehle to collect the cross.
33'
More havoc in the Liechtenstein area. Roberto to Vitolo to Koke, but his backheel is seized upon. The Spaniards might be accused of trying to be a little too clever at times.
32'
Unlike previous incumbents, Alvaro Arbeloa and Cesar Azpilicueta, Roberto is desperate to support the attacks on the right. He is offering an option and Spain, though they look far from their best, have a great balance about their formation.
30'
Spain counter with Roberto, galloping up the right, but his cross, with team mates following, is nowhere near a red shirt. Lopetegui looks on, bemused.
29'
Pique brings a mighty roar from the home fans with a crunching challenge on Nicolas Hasler by the touch-line. It seemed a little unnecessary as the Liechtenstein forward wearily picks himself up.
27'
Magic feet from Vitolo, dancing away from a couple of challenges. When he reaches the byline, though, he finds his team mates statuesque in the middle.
26'
M. Polverino gets yellow.
In a similar area to where Koke delivered the free-kick from for the opener, Polverino hacks at Costa's ankles and is carded. This time, however, the cross is poor.
25'
Lovely from Spain! Silva points where he wants the pass, and gets it from Alba. Again, the City midfielder's centre is first time, flashing across goal but Costa is beaten to the ball by Michele Polverino.
24'
At the other end, though, a nervy few moments for Gerard Pique. He is harried by his own goal line, and overcomplicates things as he tries to feint away from the aggravator. In the end, he settles for a goal kick, but it could easily have resulted in a Liechtenstein chance.
23'
Costa is going to get chances tonight! Thiago feeds a sumptuous pass into Silva, whose first touch plays inside towards Costa. The Chelsea forward spins to shoot, but is crowded out. A second goal feels like it's coming.
22'
Ramos is again keen to push up and get involved in the play here. His knock for Roberto runs away from him, though. Spain are playing a number of longer balls so far, more so than previous sides might have.
20'
Koke is dictating the play. He tries another neat pass in behind the defence, this one far cuter, but the ball is smuggled away from Vitolo.
19'
This time it's Costa's fault that he cannot get a shot away. Silva picks him out in the area, but the ball slips under his foot and escapes him as he chases down the subsequent clearance.
18'
Spain are finding their rhythm now. A couple of gorgeous switches have had Liechtenstein defenders struggling, and they will do well to keep the score down. Koke looks for Costa in behind, but the ball is too long.
16'
How have Liechtenstein escaped? A stunning Thiago pass picks out Roberto, who lays a fine ball back for Vitolo. The Sevilla man misses his kick, and, when the ball arrives at Alba's feet, he cannot beat his marker. That was another real scramble in the area.
14'
Marcel Buchel attempts the visitors' first strike, but it's easily blocked from distance. Silva counters, but his final ball is lacking again. This is unlike the City man.
12'
D. Kaufmann gets yellow.
Daniel Kaufmann goes into the book for a trip on the spinning Vitolo. David Silva's subsequent free-kick is poor and well wide.
10'
Diego Costa has scored a goal for Spain! Assist by Koke.
GOAL! And Spain are ahead! Diego Costa rises highest on the edge of the six-yard box to coolly flick the free-kick inside the far post.
It was Koke who provided the cross, and what a cross. Against a small Liechtenstein outfit, there only looked like being one outcome.
9'
The first time Spain have got into the away side's area, but Roberto's header from a Ramos pass is eventually scrambled clear. There is, however, now a free-kick on the left for a foul on Alba.
7'
As he has done for Manchester City so far this season, David Silva is occupying a deeper role tonight. Unlike for his club, there is little room to play in and his passes are going astray.
5'
Due to the sheer number of visiting defenders back there, this could turn into a scrappy game if Spain don't score early. They're being strangled by blue shirts so far.
4'
Liechtenstein are doing a really good job so far at staying tight and compact, preventing their hosts from finding spaces. As a result, Jordi Alba cannot reach a pass in behind, before Koke's through ball is seized upon.
2'
A lovely give-and-go on the right presents Dennis Salanovic with the opportunity to run at the Spanish back-line for the first time, but Thiago Alcantara dives into a tackle to rescue the ball.
1'
And off we go! Spain get us started here in Leon. Another World Cup qualifying campaign commences.
As you would expect, Spain have taken control of possession right away. Ramos is already positioned high into the opposition's half in a signal of intent.
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of Spain versus Liechtenstein in 2018 World Cup qualifying from Leon.
Julen Lopetegui won his first game in charge of the Spanish national side last week, 2-0 in a friendly against Belgium, but this is their first competitive fixture since losing their European title in France.
Of course, Germany stole Spain's status as world champions in 2014, too, making this the first time since 2010 that tonight's hosts are not entering a qualification campaign as the competition's holders.
Liechtenstein last won a game, though, in March 2015, losing eight, drawing two and scoring just three goals since then.
This is a very different Spanish side from that which Vicente del Bosque selected during Euro 2016, and they have two players tonight making their full competitive international debuts: Barcelona's Sergi Roberto and Sevilla's Vitolo.
Spain have won all of the previous six meetings between these sides by a combined score of 23-0. Their biggest win against Liechtenstein, by a six-goal margin, came in their last clash, when current captain Sergio Ramos was among the scorers in 2011.
This is just the third international fixture to be played at Estadio Reino de Leon, with Spain registering a 3-0 victory over Armenia in Euro 2004 qualifying, followed by a 2-1 friendly success against Costa Rica last year.
With this fixture giving the Leon public a rare view of the Spanish side, the atmosphere is building already. There are plenty of young fans in attendance, looking forward to seeing their heroes in this World Cup opener.
The players are on the pitch! Led out by the officials, Spain and Liechtenstein line up on the pitch as we await the national anthems. We will be under way very shortly...
Spain may have a goal, but that was surely the bare minimum expected from a game such as this. Lopetegui looked frustrated throughout that first half, while, in contrast, visiting boss Rene Pauritsch will be relatively happy with a spirited performance.
Diego Costa grabbed the opener after 10 minutes, nodding in Koke's free-kick, but the Chelsea front man has been as guilty as any Spanish player for sloppy forward play. Too often, he simply has not looked interested. That's a concern for the hosts.
The Spain team are making their way back out onto the pitch. They will hope for a much improved second period after a very ordinary first half. More goals are surely to come!
A game of two halves. What other way would there be to describe this? At half-time, Spain led by one and were frustrated. In the second period, though, they added seven more, had one disallowed and twice hit the post. Much, much better from the hosts.
A full rundown of those goalscorers: two each for Diego Costa, David Silva and Alvaro Morata, and a goal apiece for Sergi Roberto and Vitolo.
That's all from Leon as Spain broke Liechtenstein's resolve in style in an action-packed second half. They're 8-0 winners and face Italy next month! Goodbye!
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