Spain beats Sweden to stay ahead in qualifying at Euro 2020

MADRID – Sergio Ramos extended his goal series and helped Spain defeat Sweden 3-0 and maintain the lead of their qualifying group for the 2020 European Championship on Monday.

Substitutes Alvaro Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal also scored at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium to give Spain a comfortable five-point lead over Sweden, second after four Group F matches. Romania is also five points behind.

"It's a great result in a tough match against a tough opponent," Ramos said. "We have taken an important step towards qualifying for the European Championship."

Ramos has scored 20 goals with the national team, including seven since last year's World Cup. He is the top scorer of the national team under the guidance of coach Luis Enrique, also absent for personal reasons.

The result at Bernabeu extended Spain's winning streak to five matches and ended a run of seven unbeaten games.

Ramos converted a penalty in the 64th minute after a handball by Swedish midfielder Sebastian Larsson following a center from Spanish striker Marco Asensio.

Ramos also opened the scoring in a 4-1 victory over the Faroe Islands last week, when the central defender became the player who won the most wins with a national team, surpbading the record of 121 previously held by fellow Iker Casillas.

The captain was honored for the record before the match.

Monday marked Ramos' 165th appearance on the national team – two fewer than another Casillas record.

Spain scored another penalty in the 85th minute after the fall of Morata by Filip Helander in the box. Ramos handed the ball over to Morata, who calmly converted the place.

"It was a good attitude from Ramos to let me take the penalty," Morata said. "I did not even ask him."

Oyarzabal closed the scoring with a shot from inside the box at 87th for his first international goal.

Spain controlled the match at Bernabeu, creating most chances of scoring.

Rodrigo has been denied an offside goal in the first period, and Francisco "Isco" Alarcon was close with an undisputed shot inside the box that narrowly missed the start of the second period.

Sweden lost striker Viktor Claesson due to an injury in the first period.

For the third consecutive game, Luis Enrique was absent and the team was led by badistant coach Robert Moreno.

"They had only one goal attempt, so we are happy with the result and the performance," Moreno said.

Luis Enrique works remotely from his home in Barcelona. He receives video streams of practices and virtually meets his badistants.

There is no schedule for the coach's return. According to local media, his absence is due to a problem with a family member.

The qualifications will resume in September, Spain playing in Romania and Sweden visiting the Faroe Islands.

___

More football AP: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

___

Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, disseminated, rewritten or redistributed.