Albania vs Spain LIVE!

Spain continued their perfect start to Euro 2024 with a comfortable 1-0 victory over a spirited - but now eliminated - Albania on Monday, with a superb Ferran Torres strike early in the game enough to make it three straight wins at the tournament.

Spain had already qualified for the last 16 and went ahead after 13 minutes when Dani Olmo threaded the ball through to Torres who fired a sumptuous low shot in off the far post.

Spain dominated play and Torres, Mikel Merino and Joselu all came close to scoring. Albania showed determination throughout and fought desperately for a goal, with Kristjan Asllani and substitute Armando Broja forcing keeper David Raya into saves at full stretch. Albania's defeat means they go home, while Spain go through at the top of Group B. Read the game back below with our dedicated match blog.

Albania vs Spain latest updates

• GOAL: Torres gives Spain the lead

• Kick off

• How to watch for free: BBC Two and iPlayer

• What Albania need to reach knockout stages

FULL-TIME

21:55 , Dom Smith

That’s it. Spain’s 1-0 win means maximum points in Group B for them. Albania out of the competition, finishing on a solitary point but they did not embarrass themselves here.

CLOSE

21:52 , Dom Smith

THAT was the chance for Broja. He moves it nicely inside the box and then punts it on goal. But Raya is alive to catch it mid-air.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 90+1'

21:50 , Dom Smith

Four minutes of Albania’s tournament left, as Vivian is shown a yellow card.

Very bitty end to this game.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 89'

21:48 , Dom Smith

Booking for Berisha as he digs his elbow into Lopez when challenging for an aerial ball.

Won’t buy Albania more time. It’ll be less.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 84'

21:43 , Dom Smith

Hoxha has the beating of Le Normand but then balloons over. Careless really. Then it’s time for Olmo to wake way. On comes Baena, who assisted more goals than anyone else in La Liga last term: 14.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 82'

21:41 , Dom Smith

Muci on for Asani as Sylvinho tries to force the issue now.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 77'

21:37 , Dom Smith

Asllani has come alive in this second half and comes close as his shot flashes across the face of Raya’s goal, which has the Arsenal man scrambling. Close!

Albania 0-1 Spain | 72'

21:31 , Dom Smith

A substitution at both ends of the age spectrum. Yamal, 16, and Morata, 31, are on. Torres and Joselu off.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 71'

21:29 , Dom Smith

Berisha and Hoxha on for Laci and Bajrami. Double change in the Albania midfield, then.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 70'

21:29 , Dom Smith

Asllani shoots from range but has options. Poor chance. Albania can’t waste chances like that.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 68'

21:27 , Dom Smith

Broja is tackled by Le Normand, but the defender follows through onto his knee and it’s a painful one for the Slough-born striker.

Broja OK to continue though. A relief for all the Albanian fans in the ground. They love the striker.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 64'

21:24 , Dom Smith

Lovely chance for Chelsea’s Broja, who receives a nice smart quick free-kick from his teammate.

Broja forces Raya into a smart save. It stays 1-0 Spain, but they could really do with that second goal now because Asllani has just forced an Albania corner. They’re on the up.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 61'

21:21 , Dom Smith

Oyarzabal’s race is run. Lopez comes on in his place.

Albania have brought on Broja up front for Manaj.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 66'

21:26 , Dom Smith

A yellow card for Bajrami, who is just nicked by Navas but then fabricates a heck of a lot more contact than there actually was. Dive. Booking.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 57'

21:16 , Dom Smith

Decent run for Bajrami, but he is crowded out in the box and seems to lack a little conviction. He didn’t lack conviction when, let’s remember, he scored the opener against Italy after just 23 seconds.

Albania may need some changes here soon. They look shattered.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 52'

21:11 , Dom Smith

Sylvinho, Albania’s manager, remonstrates against the referee’s decision of a Spain free-kick. The ref wanders over and books Sylvinho. First yellow of the match.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 50'

21:10 , Dom Smith

Olmo turns on the halfway line and spots Strakosha off his line. But while his shot is close to the target, it never gets off the ground so couldn’t have lobbed Strakosha even if it had been on target. Spain well in control again.

CLOSE

21:07 , Dom Smith

So nearly a first tournament goal from Joselu, who acrobatically meets a cross which is behind him and sends it flying just past the post.

Strakosha was stranded. Lovely shot.

Changes nigh

21:03 , Dom Smith

Sub for Spain as Le Normand replaces Laporte at centre-back ahead of the second half, which is now back underway

Torres's extraordinary scoring rate

20:55 , Dom Smith

The goal that separates the sides was Ferran Torres’s 20th for Spain in just 44 caps.

That’s an extraordinary scoring rate for any player, especially one who isn’t a traditional out-and-out No9 but rather a winger!

HT | Albania 0-1 Spain

20:48 , Dom Smith

Half-time in Dusseldorf, and Spain lead 1-0 but could be three or four up if they had taken their chances.

Good news for Albania that they have kept the score down. Sylvinho’s team must turn this around and win to avoid exiting the competition.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 45'

20:47 , Dom Smith

Lovely strike by Asllani, who catches it perfectly, but Raya is equal to it and bats it away. Much better for Albania, though.

Joselu then scrapes wide with a chance at the other end.

One minute added on...

Albania 0-1 Spain | 44'

20:45 , Dom Smith

These misses are catching! Merino the latest to hammer over the bar from a Grimaldo pull-back.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 41'

20:42 , Dom Smith

Stupendous cross by Bayer Leverkusen’s Grimaldo. Torres attacks it at the back post but can only head over.

Good chance for Spain. Should be two, really.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 39'

20:40 , Dom Smith

Bizarre moment as Raya - known for being good at distribution - kicks that ball straight against Laporte. It bounces up and he’s lucky to be able to catch it before it goes for an Albania corner.

Terrible kick by Raya. Unpunished.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 36'

20:37 , Dom Smith

AMAZING block by Djimsiti, which saves a goal. Olmo receives into the box but is crowded out by the defender.

Albania would have 2-0 down but for his intervention.

From the resultant corner, Olmo has a pop from range but the ball pings just wide.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 34'

20:35 , Dom Smith

There’s a good width about Spain, who always seem to have either Grimaldo or Navas free and available, hugging either touchline.

Joselu is played through and makes the byline, pulling back, but he is the striker and so perhaps it’s no surprise that his cross has no target and flies over an 18-yard box full only of Albanian defenders.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 32'

20:32 , Dom Smith

Manaj wants a free-kick just on the edge of the box, but the referee feels Vivian’s handsy defending is within the bounds of the law.

Play on. Spain back on the ball.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 28'

20:30 , Dom Smith

Good defending by Mitaj as he shepherds the ball out of play after a run from Ferran Torres.

Mitaj then finds a nice pass to Laci. Albania composed when they do get the ball - which is very rarely.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 23'

20:24 , Dom Smith

Cheap foul by Zubimendi of Real Sociedad on Manaj, which earns Albania a free-kick that may just help them settle here.

Albania 0-1 Spain | 20'

20:21 , Dom Smith

Torres’s finish was lovely, and it has established an element of control for Spain. Albania struggling to nick it off them at the moment. You’re not the first and you won’t be the last, lads...

GGGOOOOOOAALLLLL SPAIN!

20:15 , Dom Smith

After a bright start by Albania, it’s Spain who lead after just 12 minutes.

Olmo spots Ferran Torres’s run, slips it through, and Torres passes the ball into the corner via the post.

Gorgeous goal. The 24-year-old 20th international goal!

Albania 0-0 Spain | 12'

20:13 , Dom Smith

Couple of decent chances for Spain go to waste, first as Strakosha saves from Merino’s header. Then Grimaldo’s cross from the left is nodded just too high and over the bar by Joselu.

Albania 0-0 Spain | 9'

20:09 , Dom Smith

Jesus’s cross is well marshalled by Ajeti, who heads half-clear. Laci takes a bump from Merino as he shields the ball out of play but looks OK and will continue.

Albania 0-0 Spain | 5'

20:06 , Dom Smith

Really positive start from Sylvinho’s Albania. They have the game’s first corner, but Asllani’s delivery is a weak one and doesn’t clear the first hurdle.

Disappointing!

Albania 0-0 Spain | 2'

20:03 , Dom Smith

Bajrami’s ball into Asani is a good one, and Spain just about get it clear.

Albania with the first chance to whip a ball into the box.

Kick off

20:01 , Dom Smith

Here we are then. Off and running in Dusseldorf.

National Anthems

19:56 , Dom Smith

National anthem time then, and we start with the Royal March of Spain.

Just 10 minutes to go

19:51 , Dom Smith

Kick off is just 10 minutes away now at the Dusseldorf Arena, in what could be Albania’s final match of the tournament but definitely won’t be Spain’s...

Albania will breathe a sigh of relief

19:39 , Dom Smith

For Albania, it will have been very welcome news that wide duo Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are not starting tonight for Spain.

They have been outstanding for the Spanish so far. The 1-0 win over Italy was Yamal’s 50th game of the season for Barcelona or Spain. He is, let’s remember, just 16 years of age!

Spain looking for a good omen

19:27 , Dom Smith

Only once before have Spain won all three group-stage games, and that was in 2008.

That year they went on to win the European Championships, beating Germany 1-0 in the final. It began a run of three straight major tournaments in which they lifted the trophy. They’ve certainly looked good here in Germany so far.

Dusseldorf Arena filling up nicely

19:14 , Dom Smith

Plenty of fans making their way into Dusseldorf Arena now, ahead of the first-ever major tournament meeting between Spain and Albania.

Summary of Group B so far

19:05 , Dom Smith

Spain have already won Group B after following up a 3-0 win over Croatia with a dominant 1-0 victory over Italy.

Second at the moment are Italy, who beat Albania 2-1 on opening night before that defeat to Spain.

Tonight, the Italians face a Croatia side who drew 2-2 with Albania after their thrashing by Spain.

Albania, like Croatia, have just one point on the board. Both teams need wins tonight if they are to reach the second round in Germany.

Albania starting line-up

18:52 , Dom Smith

Albania (4-3-3): Strakosha; Balliu, Djimsiti, Ajeti, Mitaj; Laci, Ramadani, Asllani; Asani, Manaj, Bajrami

Recognisable names in

18:50 , Dom Smith

Ten changes for Spain means chances for Arsenal’s David Raya, ex-Stoke striker Joselu and former Manchester City pair Jesus Navas and Aymeric Laporte to impress.

Albanian team isn’t out yet but we’ll have it in the next few minutes.

Spain starting line-up

18:40 , Dom Smith

Spain (4-2-3-1): Raya; Navas, Vivian, Laporte, Grimaldo; Merino, Zubimendi; Ferran Torres, Olmo, Oyarzabal; Joselu

Wholesale changes for Spain

18:38 , Dom Smith

It is being reported by some journalists at the Dusseldorf Arena that Spain boss De la Fuente has made wholesale changes - as many as TEN - for tonight’s match against Albania.

We will have the starting line-ups for you shortly!

What Albania need to reach the knockout stages

18:31 , Dom Smith

Albania, like Croatia, sit on one point and need a victory over Spain to have any chance of making the round of 16.

It would be a historic moment for Albania, who have never reached a major tournament knockout stage before and who have lost to Spain in all eight previous meetings.

Victory could be enough to see them finish second in the group if Croatia beat Italy, provided Croatia do not win by a glut of goals. But a win would more likely see Albania finish second, if Italy and Croatia draw or if Italy win that game.

Standard Sport's Albania vs Spain prediction

18:19 , Dom Smith

Spain have looked mighty impressive in their first two games. While the goals did not flow against Italy as they did against Croatia, they racked up enough chances.

Albania have been entertaining yet are not the more progressive of teams. They must also attack La Roja, and could well be picked off.

Spain to win 2-0.

Albania vs Spain match odds

18:10 , Dom Smith

Albania: 13/2

Spain: 4/9

Draw: 18/5

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

Head to head (h2h) history and results

18:03 , Dom Smith

Albania have only managed three goals in their eight defeats to Spain. They did, however, come close to ending La Roja’s 100 per-cent record with a 2-1 friendly defeat in 2022, but for Dani Olmo’s last-minute winner.

Albania wins: 0

Spain wins: 8

Draws: 0

Spain team news

17:52 , Dom Smith

Aymeric Laporte came back into the Spain team against Italy, meaning Nacho dropped out. The centre-back had not trained with his team-mates before the game, so it is perhaps unlikely he will start again four days on.

Luis de la Fuente may make other changes, with Spain having already wrapped up top spot.

Albania team news

17:42 , Dom Smith

Veteran midfielder Klaus Gjasula may be held in reserve despite his heroics off the bench in Albania’s last game, when he scored their equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Croatia.

Armando Broja was dropped from the attack but Rey Manaj faces a fight to keep his place.

Meanwhile, Albania forward Mirlind Daku has been banned for two games for leading offensive geopolitical chanting after the Croatia game.

Where to watch Albania vs Spain

17:37 , Dom Smith

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC Two, with coverage beginning at 7.30pm.

Live stream: Fans can also catch the contest live online for free via the BBC Sport and BBC iPlayer app and website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action here, via Standard Sport’s live blog.

Welcome

17:29 , Alex Young

Good evening and welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Euro 2024 group game between Albania and Spain.

La Roja have top spot in Group B secured, but Albania must take points off them tonight to stand any chance of joining them in the knockout stage.

With Spain expected to make changes to their starting XI, is there an opportunity brewing for Sylvinho's side?

Kick-off in Dusseldorf is at 8pm BST. Stick with us.