After five games of qualifying, Scotland found themselves in an unfamiliar position, having amassed a maximum 15 points to put them on the brink.
One of the wins came against this encounter’s opponents at Hampden Park in March (2-0), a result which led Spain midfielder Rodri to claim the Tartan Army’s style of play was “not football”.
It is unlikely the Manchester City midfielder will have changed his opinion following Scotland’s first-half performance at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla - La Roja managed 78% possession, while the visitors failed to muster even a shot off target.
The most important stat in football is the scoreline though, and the hosts were unable to affect it before the interval despite dominating from start to finish.
There was the odd opening - Ferran Torres really should have done when firing wide inside the first five minutes after being played through by Alvaro Morata, while Mikel Merino hit the post - but the only time they found the back of the net came when Morata was at least two yards offside as he poked into the back of the net.
At the break, Scotland would have been the happier with the goalless state of affairs, although the serious-looking injury that forced captain Andy Robertson off shortly before half-time was an undoubted setback.
Norway’s commanding lead over Cyprus meant that Steve Clarke’s men wouldn’t be getting help from elsewhere, but after wayward efforts from substitute and debutant Bryan Zaragoza and Morata, the away side went down the other end and appeared to have taken the lead.
Scott McTominay, who’s six goals for his country have all come in this qualifying cycle, found the back of the net with a free-kick from a tight angle worthy of winning any match, but VAR intervened and after a look at the pitchside monitor, referee Serdar Gozubuyuk ruled it out for Jack Hendry’s apparent obstruction of Unai Simón while in an offside position.
Ultimately, the almost constant pressure from Luis de la Fuente's side paid dividends when Morata struck 16 minutes from time. The Spain skipper had already scored 11 times in 12 matches for club and country this season prior to kick-off, and he got on the end of 37-year-old Jesus Navas’ cross to head into the bottom corner.
Now trailing, Clarke’s men showed more attacking threat than they had done throughout the rest of the match as Ché Adams and Scott Armstrong went close, but the three points were clinched for the hosts when Oihan Sancet bundled home.
Despite the result, Scotland remain in a strong position and need just two points from games against Georgia and Norway to complete the job, while Spain remain two points clear inside the top-two as they look to secure their own qualification.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Alvaro Morata (Spain)
