Julen Lopetegui's side look set for a showdown with Italy for top spot in World Cup qualification Group G after dominant win in Granada
Spain head to Wembley on Tuesday still unbeaten under new boss Julien Lopetegui, but like England 's 3-0 dismissal of Scotland on Friday there was little to set pulses racing in a routine but far from rip-roaring win over Macedonia.
The fans in Granada did at least get the chance to celebrate a home victory for the first time this season, but fittingly the opening goals arrived in scrappy fashion as Darko Velkowski headed into his own net 11 minutes before half-time and the in-form Vitolo bundled home the second just after the hour mark.
Two goals in the final 10 minutes added a shine to the scoreline as Nacho Monrealvolleyed home his first international goal before the evergreen Aritz Aduriz came off the bench to slot home David Silva 's low cross.
La Roja will travel to London on Tuesday weakened by the absence of Gerard Pique , Sergio Ramos , Andres Iniesta and Diego Costa through injury in Gareth Southgate 's first and only real test as interim boss before he looks set to be confirmed as England manager.
Southgate will be hoping for a similar Spain display, but the likes of Isco, Manchester City 's Nolito and Manchester United pair Ander Herrera and Juan Mata could be given a rare chance to impress after being left on the bench by Lopetegui on Saturday.
Here are five things we learned:
1. Spain have a serious lack of centre-backs
Without the injured pillars of Pique and captain Ramos at the back, Lopetegui was forced into naming the inexperienced centre-back pairing at international level of Nacho and Marc Bartra.
Both have managed just five league starts this season with Nacho fourth-choice centre-back at Real Madrid and Bartra blighted by injury since his lack of playing time forced through a move from Barcelona to Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
Macedonia should have taken advantage as only a David de Gea wonder save from Daniel Mojsov and a wayward header from veteran captain Goran Pandev prevented the visitors from taking a shock early lead.
Bartra was also lambasted by De Gea for an inexplicable risky pass along the edge of the his own box that left De Gea stranded and very nearly handed Macedonia an equaliser at the start of the second-half.
2. Morata fails to make Costa absence count
Alvaro Morata finds himself in a battle with club and country to prove himself worthy of a starting spot. Despite having the Spanish media onside, his chances of dislodging Karim Benzema at Real Madrid have been hampered by Benzema's good relationships with coach Zinedine Zidane and club president Florentino Perez, as well as the Frenchman's understanding on the field with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
And despite also being the popular peoples' choice, Lopetegui has so far favoured the Brazilian-born, naturalised Costa.
With the Chelsea striker ruled out through injury, Morata had the perfect platform to stake his case but for the umpteenth time this season disappointed when handed a start before being replaced by 35-year Aduriz on the hour mark.
Morata complained earlier in the week that he is sick of the tag of super sub. but, given six of his 10 goals this season have come off the bench, his performances tell a different story.
3. Vitolo destined for the Premier League
A star of Sevilla's excellent start to the season, Vitolo has also firmly established himself in the new-look Spain side and offers a pace, directness and physical edge so badly missed in their miserable defences of the World Cup and the Euros in the past two tournaments.
He is now Spain's top scorer in qualifying and also drove in behind the Barcelona defence to open the scoring in Sevilla's pulsating 2-1 defeat last weekend.
Most importantly, though, in a Spain team often characterised by stale possession, he hugs the touchline and often looks for the ball in behind the defence.
Whilst transferring skill sets from La Liga to the Premier League isn't a perfect science - just ask Iago Aspas who earned his first international call up this week - at well over 6ft and with pace to burn Vitolo looks like a prime candidate should Sevilla wish to cash in once more on a player that cost them just £600,000 from Las Palmas three years ago.
4. One game to decide the group
Ever since Italy and Spain were paired together at the draw in Saint Petersburg 16 months ago it seemed obvious there would be a two-way battle for the only automatic spot from Group G to Russia in 2018.
Italy's 4-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein means the two World Cup winners remain tied on 10 points at the top after four games.
A 1-1 draw when the sides met in Turin last month hands Spain a minor advantage, but top spot seems certain to be decided when Italy travel to Spain in September next year.
5. Silva Spain's new leader
As the transition from Spain's old guard that won three consecutive tournaments at Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012 to a new crop of talent that Lopetegui oversaw as under-19 and under-21 boss speeds up, David Silva's role only seems to become more important.
In the absence of Ramos and Iniesta, Silva was the only survivor from the Euro 2008 squad in the starting line-up and was handed the captain armband for his 106th international appearance.
Lopetegui seems keen to build his side around the Man City playmaker, who as well as pulling the strings in midfield, has a far more prolific goalscoring record at international level.
His four in five games since Lopetegui took charge making him Spain's fifth top scorer of all time with 28.
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