BARCELONA, March 27: Spain received a warm welcome in its return to Catalonia and responded by beating Albania 2-1 in its first match in Barcelona in 18 years on Saturday.
Dani Olmo scored a 90th-minute winner to give La Roja the victory in front of more than 35,000 packing Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium.
The first of Spain’s two friendlies in the international break prompted coach Luis Enrique to experiment with his squad ahead of the World Cup in Qatar this year. Spain next hosts Iceland in A Coruña on Tuesday.
Spain’s last game in Barcelona in 2004 was a win against Peru in a friendly at Montjuic Olympic Stadium.
Torres opened the scoring in the 75th.
Albania equalized when a clearing attempt by Spain defender Pau Torres ricocheted off Myrto Uzuni’s head and trickled across the line past goalkeeper David Raya.
Olmo’s winner came with a curling strike into the top corner after an assist by Jordi Alba. The buildup started with Pedri González, who was back on the national team for the first time since the European Championship semifinals last year. (AP)
