Spain hit goal trail as Azzurri hold on against Albania

Alvaro Morata and substitute Iago Aspas each scored twice as Spain continued to cruise towards the World Cup finals with an 8-0 win over Group G whipping boys Liechtenstein in Vaduz last night.

Buoyed by Saturday’s 3-0 thrashing of closest rivals Italy, the visitors raced into another 3-0 lead inside 16 minutes with goals from Sergio Ramos, Morata and Isco.

David Silva added a fourth before half-time when he was replaced by Iago, who needed just five minutes of the second half to make it 5-0.

Morata and Iago both scored again before Max Goppel’s late own goal completed the rout.

Italy effectively sealed at least a play-off place after an underwhelming 1-0 win over Israel, while third-placed Albania were held to a 1-1 draw in Macedonia.

It was hardly the performance required by the Azzurri after their defeat to the Spaniards, but Ciro Immobile’s 53rd-minute header proved enough to take the points.

Two points now separate the top four sides in Group I after leaders Croatia fell to a 1-0 defeat to Turkey in Eskisehir.

The Turks are in third place with two games to go, while Iceland moved back into second, level on points with Croatia, after a priceless 2-0 win over Ukraine in Reykjavik.

Everton’s new £45m signing Gylfi Sigurdsson scored twice for the hosts.

Finland beat Kosovo 1-0 in Shkode.