What made difference as Spain avenged Slovakia

• Jordi Alba's sixth La Roja goal sets Spain on their way to Group C leadership
• Iker Casillas marks 100th appearance as captain with two fine saves
• Slovakia concede twice in a match for the first time in two years
• Diego Costa's goal drought for Spain continues but he wins penalty for his side's second
• Next games: FYR Macedonia v Spain, Slovakia v Ukraine (8 September)

What a difference 11 months makes. Last October Slovakia's stunning 2-1 win against Spain sent shockwaves around Europe but the natural order was re-established on Saturday as the EURO holders claimed a victory that vaulted them to the top of Group C with three games left. It maintained Spain's 12-year unbeaten home record in qualifying. So what changed from their first meeting?

1. Iker Casillas. This was the Madrileño's first appearance for his country as a non-Real Madrid player and his 100th cap as national captain. If a change of scenery, domestically, has affected him in any way then in comparison to a year ago it is for the better. In Zilina, San Iker would have been dissatisfied with both goals. This time, when called upon, the Porto man was confident, agile and secure.

2. Scoring First. He has gone from the national team but Xavi Hernández's words live on. He always said that the passing-possession era at Barcelona and Spain over the last decade is hard to execute and requires rock-solid confidence allied to brilliant technique. Opponents regularly play with banked defences and if they go ahead, defend all the more ferociously.

In Zilina, Slovakia led then denied Spain an equaliser until eight minutes from time. Here, Jordi Alba's sixth goal for his country settled any nerves and helped the confidence of the European champions soar. "David [Silva] always looks for me with those types of passes and that was the sweetest delivery imaginable," Alba said. It was a pretty good finish, too.

Diego Costa won the penalty©AFP/Getty Images

3. Diego Costa. The goal drought continued in Oviedo – it is now just one in his eight appearances – but while a year ago he was all frustration, this time the Chelsea striker contributed, winning the penalty duly tucked away by Andrés Iniesta. Not a noticeably better performance by Costa than in Zilina – but his DNA was on the crucial goal. Fine margins count in elite football.

4. Matúš Kozáčik. The Slovakia keeper was man-of-the-match last October, the difference between defeat and victory. Fine margins again, but Kozáčik was slightly at fault for both Spain goals. As superb as  Silva's pass and as expert as Alba's header were, the indecisive Kozáčik was out of position. He later brought down Costa for the crucial second goal.

5. To absent friends. Coaches do not like to give excuses but consider that injuries deprived Ján Kozák of both his centre-backs from last year, Ján Ďurica and Martin Škrtel. Juraj Kucka, scorer of Slovakia's opener in Zilina, was suspended, while Vladimír Weiss and Viktor Pečovský were also notable absentees.