Spain continued their dominant form at Euro 2024 with a largely comfortable 1-0 win over Albania in Dusseldorf.
Ferran Torres struck the winner 13 minutes in, and La Roja saw the game out to maintain their 100 per cent record and eliminate Albania as a result.
Having won two from two to secure their passage into the Round of 16, a much-changed Spain side didn't let up in their intensity and drew an early save from Thomas Strakosha through Mikel Merino's header, before Torres ran in behind the defence to coolly finish in off the post and put them 1-0 up.
Further chances were spurned by Torres, Merino and Dani Olmo in the first half as Albania hardly laid a glove on their opponents, and that continued after the restart when veteran striker Joselu skewed an acrobatic volley wide.
Having had a penchant for late drama at this tournament, Albania piled on some massive pressure in the closing stages and forced David Raya into making saves from Armando Broja either side of Kristjan Asllani's long-range effort wide, but it wasn't enough and Sylvinho's side are eliminated at the bottom of Group B.
Spain head into the Round of 16 as Group B winners, having won all three of their matches without conceding a single goal. Albania, for all the passion brought by their fanbase and spirit of their players, were fighting a losing battle having conceded early on, but they did go down swinging with those second-half chances.
Italy and Croatia played out a 1-1 draw in their corresponding match, with Mattia Zaccagni equalising in the 98th minute for the Azzurri. That means they finish second at Croatia's expense, and having finished with just two points from their three games, Croatia's Euro 2024 campaign looks almost certain to be ending early, too.
MORE: Euro 2024 schedule and results, updated LIVE | Who will win Euro 2024? Latest odds and predictions | How to watch all the Euro 2024 action
Spain vs. Albania fulltime score
| Fulltime | Goal scorers | |
| Albania | 0 | |
| Spain | 1 | Torres 13' |
Venue: Merkur Spiel-Arena (Dusseldorf)
Referee: Glenn Nyberg (SWE)
Confirmed lineups:
Albania (4-2-3-1, right to left): Strakosha (GK) — Balliu, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj — Asllani, Ramadani — Asani (81' Muci), Laci (70' M.Berisha), Bajrami (70' Hoxha) — Manaj (59' Broja).
Spain (4-2-3-1, right to left): Raya (GK) — Navas, Vivian, Laporte (46' Le Normand), Grimaldo — Merino, Zubimendi — Torres (71' Yamal), Olmo (85' Baena), Oyarzabal (61' Lopez) — Joselu (71' Morata).
MORE: Who will win Euro 2024 Golden Boot?
Spain vs. Albania stats
| Spain | Stat | Albania |
| 16 | Shots | 10 |
| 3 | Shots on target | 4 |
| 1.37 | Expected goals | 0.49 |
| 59.1% | Possession | 40.9% |
| 576 | Passes | 404 |
| 6 | Corners | 2 |
| 15 | Fouls | 6 |
| 1 | Yellow cards | 2 |
| 2 | Offsides | 1 |
Spain vs. Albania updates, highlights from Euro 2024
FULLTIME: Spain 1-0 Albania
It's all over in Dusseldorf, as Spain survive those late waves of severe Albanian pressure to see out a 1-0 victory! Joselu's early volley wide in unorthodox fashion was arguably La Roja's best chance of the second half, as Albania pushed hard for an equaliser at the other end, only to see Broja denied twice by two fantastic reflex saves from David Raya!
As a result, Albania finish at the bottom of Group B and will depart the tournament at the first stage, with Croatia seemingly set to join them following a 1-1 draw with Italy. La Roja march on though, and with the last 16 ties around the corner, no side has a better record than Spain's three wins from three with no goals conceded.
90+4 mins: Asllani turns away from his marker on the edge of the box and finds Hoxha in shooting space, but he's immediately crowded out by three Spanish defenders!
Albania keep the ball alive and Radamani drills a low cross into the area, but no-one's there to get on the end of it and that will be their final chance!
90+2 mins: SAVED! Was that the chance for Albania?? Asllani whips in a free-kick from the right and Spain can't clear properly. The loose ball drops kindly for Broja, but his clipped effort goalwards is somehow saved, caught and held by Raya leaping across to his right!
90 mins: YELLOW CARD - Spain: Vivian drags Broja to ground as the Albania striker tries to wriggle free of the centre-back, and the referee brandishes a yellow card!
The fourth official raises his board at the same time, indicating four added minutes beyond the 90 in Dusseldorf.
89 mins: YELLOW CARD - Albania: Berisha catches Lopez with a stray elbow as the two contest a high ball, and the Albania substitute is booked as one of his countrymen streaks onto the pitch from the stands.
88 mins: Albania win a free-kick on the left flank and send all their defenders forward into the box, but Asllani's delivery is overhit and swirls behind for a goal-kick.
86 mins: Belisha's forward ball almost opens up a chance for Broja, but he can't quite knock the loose ball beyond Vivian and the Spain defender recovers possession.
84 mins: WIDE! Albania counter at pace and Asllani drives into the box before picking out Hoxha to his left. The substitute cuts inside looking for the far corner, but slices a woeful effort high and wide of the target!
83 mins: CHANCE! A golden touch from the golden boy Yamal takes him beyond two defenders and into the box, but he refrains from shooting and instead looks for Morata with a wayward cross that is steered away by Albania!
80 mins: The corner is delivered by Grimaldo and met by Morata from close range, but La Roja's captain can't direct his effort on target and it's skewed wide of the near post!
79 mins: Grimaldo races into open pasture on the counter-attack for Spain, and he finds Olmo to his left. The RB Leipzig playmaker cuts inside to shoot, but it's blocked behind for another corner!
78 mins: Berisha, Broja and Asllani combine again before Hoxha shoots from 20 yards, but his effort takes a pair of deflections which allow Raya to collect.
77 mins: WIDE! Albania counter after Lopez's shot is deflected away and Berisha drives forward in possession. He and Broja combine before Asllani is teed up on the edge of the box, and he sends a fizzing effort beyond the reach of Raya and just wide of the far post!
76 mins: CHANCE! Yamal's deflected cutback is fired back towards goal by Lopez and into Morata's feet. He turns and draws a close-range save from Strakosha, but the offside flag goes up to deny him a corner!
72 mins: Here he is! 16-year-old Lamine Yamal enters the fray for Spain having lit up the tournament so far, and he'll replace Torres, whose goal remains the difference with 20 minutes left.
Spain captain Alvaro Morata also comes on for Joselu up front, while Albania make two changes of their own with Medon Berisha and Arber Hoxha introduced.
69 mins: Asllani switches the play wide to Asani, who cuts inside from the right and sends an ambitious shot goalwards which rolls into Raya's gloves.
66 mins: YELLOW CARD - Albania: Bajrami looks to beat Navas down the left but hits the deck all too easily, and he's immediately booked for simulation by the referee.
65 mins: BLOCKED! Albania keep up the pressure as Asllani is found in space on the edge of the box. He strikes a low, left-footed shot goalwards, but Merino's block sends the ball just wide for a corner!
64 mins: SAVED! A glorious opening so nearly taken by Albania! They win a free-kick on the right which is played quickly to catch Spain out. Asllani succeeds to pick out Broja in the box, whose half-volley is acrobatically tipped wide by Raya at full stretch!
61 mins: Both sides make changes in the attacking third, with London-born Chelsea striker Armando Broja replacing Manaj up front for Albania, and Fermin Lopez coming on for his competitive Spain debut in place of Oyarzabal out wide.
58 mins: Olmo can't steer a Grimaldo cross goalwards but keeps the ball alive to cross for Torres, but he too is unable to divert his header on target and Albania come away with possession.
57 mins: News from elsewhere in Group B, and it's mixed news for Albania - minutes after missing a penalty, Croatia have taken the lead against Italy through Luka Modric!
That means the Red-and-Blacks could knock out the defending champions if they can turn this game around, but if not (as looks the most likely) they'll finish at the bottom of the group and will be heading home early.
55 mins: Djimsiti steps into a good challenge and drives up the field with the ball. He links up with Bajrami to his left, but the Albania winger runs down a blind alley into the box and is easily dispossessed by Navas!
52 mins: YELLOW CARD - for the boss! Albania are penalised for a soft foul and Sylvinho's far from happy, but he's soon addressed by the referee who shows the trailing head coach a yellow card!
50 mins: CHANCES! Asani picks out Asllani on the edge of the box, but Zubimendi gets in the way of his first-time finish!
Spain counter through Olmo, who carries the ball up to halfway before going for goal from miles out, dragging a low effort wide of Strakosha's goal frame!
48 mins: Bajrami loses out to Merino, who looks to pick out his Real Sociedad teammate Oyarzabal with a through ball in behind. The winger almost gets there, but Strakosha races off his line to scoop up the loose ball!
47 mins: WIDE! What a goal that would've been! Oyarzabal swings a pinpoint cross in towards Joselu at the near post, and he jumps, spins and sends a back-heeled volley just wide of the upright!
46 mins: Joselu gets proceedings back underway for La Roja, as Spain look to finish the job and end their Group B campaign on maximum points!
Kickoff: Second half
We're back for the second half as Robin Le Normand replaces Laporte at the back for Spain. As things stand, with Italy and Croatia level at 0-0, both Albania and Croatia will be heading home with just three points between them in Group B.
HALFTIME: Spain 1-0 Albania
Halftime arrives, and despite only being a goal to the good on the scoreline, Spain have absolutely dominated so far in Dusseldorf. La Roja had already seen a headed chance for Joselu kept out by Strakosha before Torres finished off a rapid-fire move to slot the opening goal in off the post, and they've not let up in their quest for more goals.
Olmo, Torres and Merino have all fired off-target as Spain squandered chances to put themselves out of sight already, while at the other end, Albania's only chance has seen Asllani force a brilliant save from Raya.
45+1 mins: We're into a single minute of added time, as Joselu cuts inside from the left and fires a low shot just wide of the near post!
45 mins: SAVED! Albania's first effort on goal goes very close indeed! The ball falls kindly for Asllani on the edge of the box, and he lashes a shot towards the top corner which Raya does very well to parry!
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44 mins: OVER! Merino finds space in the box and is found by a low Grimaldo cutback from the left, but gets massively underneath his shot and sends it straight over the top!
43 mins: Another Grimaldo cross from the left is headed down, then steered goalwards by a pair of flicks from Torres and Olmo before Ajeti knocks the ball behind for another Spanish corner!
41 mins: OVER! Spain keep possession ticking over before Grimaldo sends a high, hanging cross into the box. Torres lies in wait at the far post, but his header goalwards from a standing position loops over the top of the crossbar!
39 mins: Almost a howler of epic proportions from Spain! Raya attempts to launch a clearance long, but instead blasts his effort into the back of his own defender in Laporte, and is relieved when the ball ricochets back into his hands!
37 mins: WIDE! Spain's corner is punched away by Strakosha but only as far as Olmo, who looks to pick out Oyarzabal at the back post and sends a floated ball just wide of the upright!
36 mins: BLOCKED! Navas wins the ball very high up the pitch and drills it low into the box. Olmo's got sight of goal and goes to shoot, but Djimsiti makes a crucial intervention to stop the effort in its tracks from right in front!
34 mins: Olmo's through ball sends Torres racing in behind the Albania defence and he scoops the ball back from the byline. Joselu can't get there, but Oyarzabal's closing in at the far post and forces Balliu to head behind for a corner.
33 mins: Navas launches another dangerous cross into the area from the right-hand side, but neither Joselu nor Grimaldo can make anything of the chance and Albania clear their lines.
32 mins: Manaj goes down under pressure from Vivian right on the edge of Spain's box, but the referee says it's a fair challenge and no penalty will be forthcoming.
30 mins: Asian cuts inside from the right and looks to put in a cross, but massively overcooks his attempt and sends the ball sailing miles over and behind!
27 mins: The goalscorer Torres drifts over to the left flank and fires a right-footed cross into the box, but there's no-one in yellow on the end of it as Strakosha makes a simple enough catch.
26 mins: Grimaldo whips a Spanish corner into the box which Laporte rises to meet. His looping header is punched half-clear by Strakosha, but his defence are able to clean things up eventually.
23 mins: Successive crosses from the left by Grimaldo and Merino are both dealt with by the Albanian defence, before Manaj is clipped late by Zubimendi to cut out a potential counter-attack.
21 mins: WIDE! Merino wins the ball in midfield and Oyarzabal plays it forward to Olmo. He shoots ambitiously from 20 yards, but can only pull his effort across the face and behind for a goal-kick!
20 mins: Spain spring into action having kept possession for what seemed an age. Olmo tries a deft flick into the path of Joselu on the edge of the box, but Abet steps across in cover to get there first and clear.
17 mins: Albania move the ball into Spain's box as Manaj holds it up well. He combines with Balliu and Laci to his right, but the latter's ball into the area is cut out and Spain will look to counter.
13 mins: GOAL - Spain 1-0 Albania! A gorgeous opening goal from La Roja! A long pass out of defence is then threaded in behind Albania by Olmo, and Torres doesn't even break stride to arrive onto the ball at speed and slot it into the bottom corner off the base of the far post!
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Canada:
12 mins: OVER! Another cross, this time from Grimaldo on the left, is latched onto by Joselu, whose glancing header whistles just over the top!
11 mins: SAVED! A great early chance for Spain as Navas latches onto Olmo's flicks and crosses from the byline. Merino makes a late run into the box to meet his cross from the byline, but Strakosha repositions himself well to make a crucial save in the centre of the goal!
8 mins: Zubimendi's cross-field pass is played out wide to Navas on the right. He looks for fellow veteran Joselu with a looping ball into the middle, but the Real Madrid striker can't get there ahead of Albanian captain Djimsiti.
5 mins: Bajrami takes on Navas down the left and drills a low cross into the middle, which ricochets off the stand-in Spain captain and deflects behind for the game's first corner!
3 mins: Spain have won all eight of their previous encounters with Albania, their best 100 per cent record against any opponent alongside Liechtenstein and Malta, whom they’ve also faced and beaten on eight occasions [Opta].
Kickoff: First half
Manaj kicks the game off for Albania, and the final round of matches in Group B is up and running in Dusseldorf!
5 mins before kickoff: Here come the teams! Albania in their deep red jerseys trudge out onto the pitch opposite their Spanish counterparts draped in light yellow, as we get ready for the respective national anthems with kickoff just moments away!
10 mins before kickoff: Not long to go now, so it's worth remembering that Italy and Croatia are facing off at the exact same time in Group B's other fixture.
Having both been beaten by Spain so far, the ball is in Italy's court having defeated Albania 2-1 in their opening match. Croatia must better Albania's result to finish above them in the group, while Italy also need at least a draw to book their place in the last 16.
20 mins before kickoff: The Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf is packed to the rafters as two contrasting seas of red get ready for the fast-approaching kickoff. It could be the last of Albania we see in this tournament, but the team and their loyal fans will be confident of producing the upset they need against this new-look Spanish side.
40 mins before kickoff: Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente rings changes aplenty to his starting XI with 10 in total —former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte being the only player to keep his place from the 1-0 win over Italy.
For Albania, there's only one alteration though, with Ivan Balliu replacing Elseid Hysaj at right-back ahead of this must-win encounter for the Eastern European nation!
1 hour before kickoff: La Roja's permutations for this game are fairly straight-forward: avoid defeat and top Group B. Their 100 per cent record so far suggests that won't be an issue, but they face an Albania side with everything to play for.
Currently sat third thanks to having a better goal difference than Croatia, Albania really need a victory to stand any chance of reaching the last 16, regardless of what goes on in the corresponding match between Italy and Croatia.
1 hour 20 mins before kickoff: Albania have also given a brilliant account of themselves so far, but are yet to taste victory after two matches played.
They scored inside 23 seconds to lead 1-0 in their opening match against Italy, but the holders soon came back to turn things around and win 2-1 in Dortmund. The Red and Blacks scored early against Croatia too, and after being hit with a second-half comeback which had them trailing 2-1 again, produced one of their own to rally and equalise in the sixth minute of added time.
1 hour 40 mins before kickoff: Spain have arguably been the most impressive of all the sides we've seen at Euro 2024 so far, and are one of only two sides still holding 100 per cent records with the final round of group games well underway.
A 3-0 demolition of Croatia, with all goals scored in the first half, was one hell of an early statement, and although they weren't anywhere near as clinical against Italy last time out, La Roja were still more than worthy winners as they defeated the defending champions 1-0.
2 hours before kickoff: Welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Albania vs. Spain. With Spain already topping the group, Lamine Yamal is expected to be rested today but that won't stop us taking a look at these incredible numbers ahead of this Group B clash.
Spain vs. Albania kickoff time
This Euro 2024 match kicks off from Merkur-Spiel Arena on Monday, June 24 at 9:00 p.m. local time in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Mon, Jun. 24 | 3 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Mon, Jun. 24 | 12 p.m. PT |
| UK | Mon, Jun. 24 | 8 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Mon, Jun. 25 | 5 a.m. AEST |
| India | Mon, Jun. 25 | 12:30 a.m. IST |
Euro 2024 Group B standings
| Pos | Team | GP | Pts | W-D-L | GD |
| 1. | Spain (Q) | 3 | 9 | 3-0-0 | +5 |
| 2. | Italy (Q) | 3 | 4 | 1-1-1 | 0 |
| 3. | Croatia | 3 | 2 | 0-2-1 | -3 |
| 4. | Albania | 3 | 1 | 0-1-2 | -2 |
Q = Qualified for Round of 16
Spain vs. Albania lineups, team news, starting 11
Albania head coach Sylvinho is has a fully fit contingent at his disposal ahead of this pivotal Euro 2024 Group B clash against Spain in Dusseldorf.
He is, however, without forward Mirlind Daku after he was suspended by UEFA for two games after using a megaphone to lead fans in chanting offensive remarks against Macedonia and Serbia at the European Championship.
Despite his exploits as a substitute in Albania's previous game, veteran Klaus Gjasula has been left on the bench with Kristjan Asllani and Ylber Ramadani selected as first-choice options in the double-pivot; fellow goalscorer Qazim Laci should continue in an advanced midfield role.
Armando Broja drops to the bench again with Rey Manaj preferred to lead the line up front, and he'll be flanked from either side by Jasir Asani and Nedim Bajrami.
Albania confirmed starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Strakosha (GK) — Balliu, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj — Asllani, Ramadani — Asani, Laci, Bajrami — Manaj.
Subs (14): E. Berisha (GK), Kastrati (GK), Hysaj, Gjasula, Broja, Mihaj, Seferi, M. Berisha, Muci, Ismajli, Abrashi, Kumbulla, Aliji, Hoxha.
Injured: None
Suspended: Daku (two matches)
Having already guaranteed their progression to the last 16, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente makes several changes to his starting XI, although one of those is an enforced alteration after Rodri picked up his second booking of the competition against Italy.
Real Madrid centre-back Nacho (muscular injury) is sideline, but Real Betis forward Ayoze Perez (hamstring) has been passed fit to appear on the bench following a late examination.
Aymeric Laporte returned from his own injury absence last time out and is keeps his place at centre-half alongside Dani Vivian, with Robin Le Normand, only one booking away from a single-match ban, amongst the substitutes
David Raya replaces Unai Simon in between the sticks to make his first appearance at a major tournament, while Alejandro Grimaldo and 38-year-old veteran Jesus Navas line up in the fullback positions — the latter is the last remaining member of La Roja's golden generation in the current squad.
Martin Zubimendi fills in for Rodri at the base of midfield alongside his Real Sociedad teammate Mikel Merino, while a new-look attack Spanish features Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal either side of number 10 Dani Olmo, as Joselu plays through the middle as a lone striker.
Spain confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3): Raya (GK) — Navas, Vivian, Laporte, Grimaldo — Merino, Zubimendi — Torres, Olmo, Oyarzabal — Joselu.
Subs (13): Remiro (GK), Simon (GK), Carvajal, Le Normand, Morata, Ruiz, Baena, Williams, Yamal, Pedri, Cucurella, Lopez, Perez.
Injured: Nacho (muscle)
Suspended: Rodri
Spain vs. Albania live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Euro 2024 match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | FS1 | Fubo, Sling, Fox Sports app/website, ViX |
| Canada | TSN2, TVA Sports 2 | TVA+ |
| UK | BBC Two | iPlayer and BBC Sport website |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | Sony Ten 2, 3 | JioTV, Sony LIV |