MATCH REPORT | Spain were Spain. South Korea rocked by lethal finishing (5-0)

Spain came out at the Cartagonova playing some electric stuff and completely on fire. Proof of this was the lightning-fast combination between Mariona Caldentey and Claudia Pina. The first one was the first one to be picked up by Pina, who marked her return to the national team with a goal. And while the striker from Moncada y Reixach returned, Adriana Nanclares made her debut. The goalkeeper from Miranda de Ebro defended the Spanish goal for the first time in a night nobody who witnessed it will forget in a hurry.

The night already promised excitement after the tribute to the European champions and U-17 World Under-17 runners-up and the tribute to the recent flood victims. The warmth of the Cartagonova crowd was palpable and the players were growing as the minutes ticked by. Leila Ouahabi was encouraged from long range and Aitana Bonmatí put the Korean goal in serious danger, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Montse Tomé's team pushed and probed. Teresa Abelleira connected with Mariona who, after some brilliant control and half turn, laid it off to Patri Guijarro who tried from outside the area with power, but without success. Amaiur Sarriegi had a chance after a great play by Patri Guijarro after half an hour. It skimmed the woodwork and into the back of the net for goal number 13 in her 19 international appearances for the San Sebastian striker.

Red domination was so superior this first half that Adriana Nanclares got her first touch on the ball in the 44th minute. And a minute later, just as she was about to retire to the dressing room, Aitana Bonmatí, after a through ball from Tere Abelleira, rounded off the scoring to make it 3-0 at the halfway mark.

The second half started like the first, with Spain pouring forward in attack. Vicky López, who this week received her European Golden Girl 2024 award, came on in the 52nd minute to replace Patri Guijarro. Eight minutes later, a triple change with another debut. Montse Tomé brought on Macarena Portales, who was playing her first minutes with the national team, Cristina Martín-Prieto and Jana Fernández. Laia Codina, Mariona and Sarriegi sat back to watch Vicky López's first goal for the national team. At 18 years of age, and in front of her U-17 and U-19 team-mates, the young striker was the quickest to pounce on a loose ball from a corner.

With the optimism of a healthy looking scoreline, the coach took the opportunity for another double substitution and yet another debut, this time Maite Zubieta. The youth team players witnessed two of their regulars in the youth ranks making their debuts for the senior side. Alongside the Athletic player, Bruna Vilamala also took the field. Tere Abelleira, who had taken countless corners, and Claudia Pina went off to rest. It was the 74th minute and Spain were in total control of the game. As the clock was winding down, Bruna herself had a chance, as a curling ball to her head almost scored the fifth of the night. But the scorer of the fifth was Vicky, who capped off a truly magical night with a masterpiece. A brace on her debut with an immensely skillful foot of hers.

As Montse Tomé had warned in the build-up, Spain were going to be Spain, and indeed they were.

The World and UEFA Women's Nation’s League champions had a magical night with three debuts, those of Adriana Nanclares, Macarena Portales and Maite Zubieta, and two new goalscorers, those of Claudia Pina on her return and Vicky López. The national team leaves Cartagonova with a good feeling in the group ahead of the clash against France next Tuesday at the Allianz Riviera in Nice (21h, La 1, TVE).