Spain pick up the pace against Albania

Class told in Elbasan as second-half goals from Iker Muniain and Gerard Deulofeu secured a sixth successive UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group 4 victory for Julen Lopetegui's side.

Albania gave their illustrious guests a run for their money in the first half, but there was no way back after Athletic Club forward Muniain scored on the break on 66 minutes, tapping in Álvaro Morata's cross. There were more chances before the final whistle, and Deulofeu eventually put the tie to bed with a neat diagonal shot two minutes from the end.

The first half was slow, with Blerim Kotobelli going reasonably close with a 20-metre shot at one end before Morata had an effort blocked inside the area at the other. Both sides rose to the task a little after the break, with Muniain making the breakthrough. Herolind Shala passed up a chance to level, and Aldo Teqja did well to block substitute Jairo Samperio's shot for Spain, but the pacy visitors held on with the help of Deulofeu's finish.