Spain will be looking to make it six wins from their six Euro 2020 qualification matches when they welcome the Faroe Islands to Gijon on Sunday night.

La Roja beat Romania on Thursday to move onto 15 points in the section, while the Faroe Islands have lost all five of their Group F games thus far - including a 4-0 home defeat to Sweden last time out.

Match preview

© Reuters

Thursday's clash in Romania was far from straightforward for Spain, but goals from Sergio Ramos and Paco Alcacer ultimately proved enough for the visitors, who had Diego Llorente sent off in the second period, to pick up a 2-1 victory and further strengthen their position at the top of Group F.

La Roja started their qualification campaign with a 2-1 home success over Norway before beating Malta in their second game three days later. The 2010 world champions then recorded a 4-1 win in the Faroe Islands before overcoming Sweden and Romania in their last two to collect 15 points from their five fixtures.

Only a minor miracle will prevent Robert Moreno's side from qualifying from this position, and the nation will be looking to challenge for the Euro 2020 crown after a disappointing few years. Spain have won two of the last three European Championships but were knocked out in the round of 16 at Euro 2016.

It would probably be fair to say that Moreno, who left some big names out of the latest squad, is still not settled on his best XI, although La Roja's strong position in the group will allow the manager the opportunity to experiment in the coming months.

After Sunday's game, Spain are not back in action until October when they will face Norway and Sweden, before ending their Group F campaign with home games against Malta and Romania one month later.

© Reuters

The Faroe Islands gave a good account of themselves in the reverse clash with Spain back in June - the visitors did run out 4-1 winners on the night, but it was certainly an impressive performance from Lars Olsen's team, who know that they will be up against it once again on Sunday night.

It is a huge ask to expect the visitors to pick up a positive result this weekend considering that they have lost all five of their Group F games thus far; they started with back-to-back defeats to Malta and Romania in March, before losing to Spain and Norway in their two June fixtures.

Olsen's team then suffered a 4-0 home reverse to Sweden on Thursday night, which will not have done too much for their confidence ahead of a clash with one of the best international teams in world football.

It is just under a year since the Faroe Islands last won an international fixture, with that success coming over Malta in the UEFA Nations League. Meanwhile, the fourth smallest UEFA country by population have not been victorious in a European qualification fixture since overcoming Greece on home soil in June 2015.

The National Team have never advanced to the finals of a World Cup or European Championships, and that will not be on their agenda for this tournament. A positive performance against Spain will be, though, and the visitors will be hoping to give their supporters something to cheer in Gijon.

Spain form: WWWWW

Faroe Islands form: LLLLLL

Team News

© Reuters

Spain will be without the services of Diego Llorente after the Real Sociedad defender picked up a red card during the narrow win over Romania last time out.

As a result, there is expected to be a spot in the team for Atletico Madrid's Mario Hermoso, while Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal could also return to the team at right-back.

Pablo Sarabia is also pushing for his first start for the national team having featured off the bench against Romania, while Suso is battling Rodrigo Moreno for a spot in a wide position.

Alcacer is expected to keep his spot at centre-forward, though, having netted what proved to be the winner on Thursday night.

Sergio Busquets, Saul Niguez and Dani Ceballos could also all keep their spots, although it would not be a surprise to see Moreno hand chances to the likes of Mikel Oyarzabal and Unai Nunez.

As for the visitors, Olsen has no injury concerns from the side that featured against Sweden.

Klaemint Olsen - who netted against Spain earlier this year - could come into the side in the final third of the field, potentially alongside Joan Simun Edmundsson, who is the leading scorer in the squad with seven goals.

Hallur Hansson will bring plenty of experience to the team in the middle of the park, while 37-year-old Atli Gregersen should skipper the visitors from central defence.

Spain possible starting lineup: Arrizabalaga; Carvajal, Ramos, Hermoso, Alba; Busquets, Saul, Ceballos; Sarabia, Alcacer, Moreno

Faroe Islands possible starting lineup: Nielsen; Davidsen, Gregersen, Vatnsdal, Eriksen; Sorensen, Hannson, B Olsen, Johannesen; K.Olsen, Edmundsson

We say: Spain 5-0 Faroe Islands

It is very difficult to predict anything other than a comfortable home win on Sunday night. The Faroe Islands showed some positive signs in the reverse fixture back in June, although La Roja still ended the match as comfortable winners; we are expecting a resounding home success in this one.

Written by
Matt Law

Previews by email