1×1 Spain: Pedri and Rodri from City led the Luchoneta very well

This was the performance of the players of the National Team against Albania:

Photo by David Raya

David Raya: Very attentive to act as libero in the opponent’s long balls behind the defense and he was the one who started the game by weaving attacks from behind, seeking to overcome Albania’s pressure. He failed to see him between the posts and had little luck in Albania’s goal, in which Pau was not successful.

Photo by Dani Carvajal

Carvajal: He did not arrive at his best moment and Luis Enrique gave him confidence by putting him in the starting lineup. He didn’t lavish much on offense in the first half, but he was sober in all his actions. In the second half he attacked more and better. He was substituted in the 70th minute for Carvajal.

Photo by Eric Garcia

Eric García: A fixture for the coach, he is seen with more and more confidence with La Roja. His handling of the ball at the start of the game is the characteristic that makes him untouchable and he always does it well. He must be more vigorous in some actions so that the Spanish defense is not vulnerable at times.

Photo by Pau Torres

Paul Torres: A guarantee in the exit of the ball. He knew how to retreat and suffer in the Albanian counterattacks. He must improve in being more expeditious and forceful as he must be a center back and that mistake was in the Albanian goal, which he risked too much by wanting to play the ball.

Photo by Marcos Alonso

Mark Alonso: The great Chelsea winger started a bit cold and went from less to more and ended up associating very well with Sarabia and Pedri in those triangles that internationals make in Luis Enrique’s National Team. He left his place to Jordi Alba in the 63rd minute.

Rodrigo's photo

Rodri: He played with hierarchy and commanded the game with presence, moving the team giving speed and meaning to the game and always offering support to his teammates. He dominated the air game, circulating the ball without misses or turnovers. He even showed that he has a good mid-range shot. He began the path to be the superlative midfielder that they enjoy at City with Spain.

Photo de Gavic

Gavi: a caste He fell to the wing, floor area and was aggressive in the pressure. When you control your ardor it will grow even more. Breaks lines in conduction and with walls. He was substituted in the 63rd minute by Carlos Soler.

Pedri's photo

Pedri: He shot more times on goal in this friendly than in the entire European Championship, showing that Xavi Hernández is making him a better player by requiring him to step into the area and score goals to be a better footballer. He is a superclass and is going to mark an era with Spain. The dorsal number 10 is nickel-plated to the canary.

Photo of Ferran Torres

Ferran Torres: Versatile and with a lot of spark, he threw diagonals and looked for the goal as always. Perhaps he should have switched wings with Sarabia to take advantage of both better playing with a changed leg. Precisely when he removed Sarabia, Luis Enrique placed him as a center forward and a minute later he shot with a heel that almost scored and two minutes later he scored 1-0. He is the goal man for Spain de la Luchoneta with 13 goals.

Photo of Morata

Morata: He went to receive more than he should against a defense with three central defenders. He is a resource that the team needs, in the frontal pass from central defenders or central midfielders, but against Albania he should have stretched the team more. As always, he was honest and did not stop trying, but it was not his best performance with the National Team.

Photo of Sarabia

Paul Sarabia: He began participating less than usual because the game was charged more from the right, but he showed his class by throwing the actions from set pieces. Little by little he was seen and reached the danger zones as he knows (he has 15 goals and seven assists at Sporting de Portugal) and had a Chilean opportunity to center Morata that he finished off very forcefully. He was substituted in the 63rd minute for Dani Olmo.

Substitutions

Alba's photo

Jordi Alba: He replaced Marcos Alonso on the left side in the 63rd minute. He was captain of Spain in Cornellà, next to the field that saw him born in football. Whether he’s a starter or a substitute, Jordi always plays to the maximum and pays off with the National Team. He participated in the play of Dani Olmo’s winning goal.

Photo by Dani Olmo

Danny Olmo: He entered in the 63rd minute for Pablo Sarabia. Olmo is an untouchable for Luis Enrique who lost his place in the starting eleven due to a muscle injury and is working hard to get it back. He pushed and pushed for the win from his left wing position. And he scored a great goal for the top corner in the last minute to get a deserved win against Albania.

Photo by Carlos Soler

Carlos Soler: He left for Gavi in ​​the 63rd minute. The Valencian player always adds. He participated in the pressure and circulation always with criteria and verticality.

Photo of Azpilicueta

Azpilicueta: He took the place of Carvajal in the 70th minute. He put energy and defensive intensity and pushed in search of victory when Spain was at its worst moment of the game.

Photo by Yeremy Pino

Yeremy Pino: He replaced Morata in the 70th minute. The Canarian came out very plugged in and from his robbery in the pressure came the goal by Ferran Torres, to whom he gave a magnificent assist deep inside. A footballer who changes matches.

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Luis Enrique: When his name was called over the public address system at the RCDE Stadium after announcing the line-up, he received the biggest ovation he has received in any Spanish stadium since he became a coach. The coach wanted to show his players that anyone can play as a starter and that anyone can be important when he comes off the bench. He did not get up to the technical area as much as in other games and made polite, correct, precise and effective corrections, which are immediately received by his players. The team is a machine for attacking and defending in the opposition field, but they are still weak in the defense of their own area and once again conceded a gift in Albania’s goal. But Luis Enrique prioritizes the good foot in a central, before the forcefulness.

Luis Enrique, during the friendly match against Albania held in Barcelona on March 26, 2022