Spain beat Peru 3-1 at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, reinforcing Luis de la Fuente’s 4-3-3 framework ahead of the continental summer. The visitors struck inside two minutes when Pau Cubarsí stepped out of defence to find Mikel Oyarzabal, and from there Spain dictated the tempo.
Pedri doubled the lead in the 32nd minute, finishing a move sparked by Ferran Torres on the right. The Tenerife-born midfielder’s combinations with Rodri and Álex Baena kept Peru penned back despite Óscar Ibáñez entrusting Renzo Garcés, Oliver Sonne and Marcos López to hold the line with Yoshimar Yotún and Jorge Pretell screening in front.
De la Fuente made four changes at the break—David Raya, Eric García, Dani Olmo and Yeremy Pino all entered—and although the rhythm dipped, Spain still found a third when Pedro Gallese diverted the ball into his own net in the 53rd minute. Further alterations on the hour introduced Martín Zubimendi, Marc Pubill, Gavi and Mikel Merino, reshaping Spain around fresh legs.
Ibáñez responded in the 62nd minute with André Carrillo, Alfonso Barco and Matías Castro, and the adjustment paid off when Jairo Vélez struck in the 66th minute from a Marcos López pass to cut the deficit. Spain steadied matters with a triple change in the 69th minute as Borja Iglesias, Alejandro Grimaldo and Pedro Porro arrived to push the block higher once more.
Renzo Garcés collected a yellow card in the 86th minute during Peru’s late surge that also saw Matías Zegarra and Matías Huamán come on, yet Spain closed out the contest with composure. Raya remained largely untested as Pubill tucked inside and Porro held the flank.
Spain’s staff can be pleased with their fluid first-half control, the composure of Cubarsí alongside senior figures, Pedri’s command between the lines and Ferran Torres’ end product. Peru will take heart from Vélez’s finish and López’s energy, but Ibáñez heads into the next window targeting greater clarity at centre-back and more consistent protection in midfield.
Key Moments
- 2nd minute: Mikel Oyarzabal scores, assisted by Pau Cubarsí.
- 32nd minute: Pedri scores, assisted by Ferran Torres.
- 53rd minute: Pedro Gallese own goal.
- 66th minute: Jairo Vélez scores, assisted by Marcos López.
- 86th minute: Renzo Garcés booked.
Spain substitutions (chronological)
46' David Raya for Unai Simón
46' Eric García for Aymeric Laporte
46' Dani Olmo for Fabián Ruiz
46' Yeremy Pino for Mikel Oyarzabal
61' Martín Zubimendi for Rodri
61' Marc Pubill for Pau Cubarsí
61' Gavi for Álex Baena
61' Mikel Merino for Pedri
69' Borja Iglesias for Ferran Torres
69' Alejandro Grimaldo for Marc Cucurella
69' Pedro Porro for Marcos Llorente
Peru substitutions (chronological)
62' André Carrillo for Yoshimar Yotún
62' Alfonso Barco for Erick Noriega
62' Matías Castro for Jhonny Vidales
75' Adrián Quiroz for Alexi Ugarriza
86' Matías Zegarra for Marcos López
86' Matías Huamán for Oliver Sonne
87' Jairo Concha for Jairo Vélez
87' Ray Sandoval Vilca for Jorge Pretell
Spain now look toward the next friendly on their North American tour with confidence in their depth, while Peru return to Lima seeking defensive adjustments and quicker links from the pivot into the attacking line. For more regional context tonight, see Vanuatu vs Fiji, China vs Thailand and Philippines vs Myanmar.
