Munir and Santi Mina on target as Spain ravage San Marino

Spain's Under-21s did exactly what required of them in their seventh 2017 Poland qualifying game, thrashing San Marino 6-0 in Castellón, to set confidence levels in high mode ahead of Monday's crucial meeting with second-placed Sweden in Malmö - a match which could determine whether Albert Celades' team made the final stage of the tournament or not.

Celades opted for a changed starting line-up at the Nuevo Castalia - handing Sevilla's Diego González and Borussia Dortmund's Mikel Merino their first caps in central defence and midfield respectively. Even before Diego González had got his debut off to a flyer by opening the scoring on 14 minutes, Spain had already seen a clear penalty appeal waved away and two chances, from Grimaldo and Munir, draw gasps from the stands.

It was great news for Diego González who nodded the hosts ahead, and gave Spain all the protection they needed at the back in his maiden appearance. Not that he had time to celebrate it, Munir made it 2-0 almost immediately after play had resumed - and likewise, he will also benefit from today's injection of self confidence before he starts his loan stint with Valencia. With regular minutes at Mestalla, it promisies to be a productive season for the young striker.

Munir's second of the evening merely underlined the danger he poses in and around the box, and he has time to forge a special partnership with club team mate Santi Mina, who added two goals to Spain's goals himself before Iñaki Williams, on as a second-half sub, latched onto a rebound to conclude the scoring. Spain sit third in Group 6 on 16 points - one behind Monday's opponents Sweden and three behind leaders Croatia who have played a game more.