BARCELONA (Dispatches) - Spain beat Italy 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday in their World Cup Qualifying match to grab a stranglehold on Group G.
Isco grabbed two goals during a scintillating display from Spain, the Madrid star beating Gianluigi Buffon with a free-kick before adding a second with a shot from outside the penalty area.
Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata added a third from Sergio Ramos’ cross at the far post after coming on a substitute.
It was Italy’s first defeat in a qualifier since 2006.
Spain lead the group with 19 points while Italy have 16.
Only the winner from each group qualifies directly for Russia, with the eight best second-placed teams entering play-offs.
In other matches played on Saturday, Wales gave their hopes of qualifying a boost as they beat Austria 1-0 in their Group D clash at the Cardiff City Stadium courtesy of a brilliant long range strike from teenager Ben Woodburn.

In other Group D matches, The Republic of Ireland could only manage a 1-1 draw in Georgia to remain in second place after Serbia beat Moldova 3-0.
Serbia now top the group with 15 points ahead of Ireland on 13. Wales are now in third place with 11 points.
****Isco opened the scoring with a wonderful curling free-kick in the 12th minute, before the Real Madrid midfielder doubled the hosts’ advantage with a long-range effort 5 minutes before the break.