Spain brush Norway aside with winning start to Euro qualifiers
With their heroes winless in three after a frustrating FIFA World Cup exit to Morocco, Spain fans descended on Estadio La Rosaleda eager to witness a fresh start under Luis de la Fuente.
And he got his tenure off to a flyer inside 15 minutes, when Alejandro Balde’s low ball into the box was cleverly turned in by Olmo for his sixth international goal.
The strike always had a feel of significance in a historical context too, with Spain boasting a perfect win record when scoring first in home Euro qualifiers since June 1995.
Some in attendance might have expected the floodgates to open immediately, but Norway were in no mood to roll over so early on, and they manufactured two clear-cut chances before the interval.
The first fell to captain Martin Ødegaard, who jinked confidently onto his left foot before seeing a low shot blocked by Nacho.
Of the visiting players, however, it was Fredrik Aursnes who came closest to levelling before HT, producing a plush back-post volley that forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into an impressive reflex save.
The contest then morphed into a cagey affair after the interval, with neither team posing any significant threat until the closing stages, when Alexander Sørloth spurned Norway’s best chance of the night by directing a close-range volley off target.
That was Spain’s cue to wrap up the three points once and for all, and 32-year-old Joselu turned his long-awaited international debut into a fairytale night with two goals in as many minutes.
The veteran firstly peeled off to the back post, where he expertly headed back across Ørjan Nyland and into the far corner, before rifling in from close range to add extra panache to a final scoreline that somewhat exaggerates the difference between the sides.
The result itself comes as no great surprise for Spain though, having long been favourites to take first place in Group A.
Defeat, meanwhile, reminded Norway that they are likely to be in an almighty scrap for the second qualifying spot. Both teams next take to the field on Tuesday evening, with La Furia Roja travelling to joint-leaders Scotland and the Lions taking on Georgia.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Joselu (Spain)
