A brace from Manchester City striker Ferran Torres helped La Roja beat European Champions Italy to book their place in the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League Final. Luis Enriquez’s men will face either Belgium or France in the trophy clash.
Enrique sprang a surprise by naming 17-year-old Barcelona starlet Gavi in the squad for the international break and another one by naming him in the first eleven for the semi-final clash against Italy.
The Blaugrana midfielder started alongside veterans Koke and Sergio Busquets to counter the Italian midfield trio of Jorginho, Marco Verratti, and Nicolo Barella.
Spain took the lead with their first attempt of the game in the 17th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal delivered a pin-point cross from the left flank to Torres, whose slightest touch from close range was enough to take the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma in the opposition goal. Italy survived a mere scare seconds after falling behind after PSG goalkeeper nearly spilled Marcos Alonso’s shot into his goal.
Italy came close to levelling the match in the first half; Federico Bernardeschi, first, had his near-post shot saved superbly by Simon, before Lorenzo Insigne fired wide off the mark after being played through on goal.
Before the interval, things went from bad to worse for the Azzurri as they had Leonardo Bonucci sent off – minutes before Torres doubled Spain’s lead. The City forward headed the ball past Donnarumma from another cross by Mikel Oyarzabal.
Italy pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute through Lorenzo Pellegrini. But the AS Roma captain’s goal proved to be nothing more than mere consolation, as Italy went down for the first time in 38 games.
Spain, meanwhile, progress to the final of the Nations League, where they will meet either Belgium or France, depending upon the result of the second semi-final scheduled to take place on October 7.
