English Premier League
Carlos Espi scores five on Spain Under-21 debut in 13-0 win over San Marino
Carlos Espi marked his Spain Under-21 debut with five goals as the team overwhelmed San Marino 13-0 in their European Under-21 Championship 2027 qualifier on Thursday.
The match was played at San Marino Stadium in Serravalle, where Spain dominated from the start to strengthen their position at the top of Group A.
Spain’s victory leaves them two points clear of Finland before their final group match against Romania in Ibiza on 6 October. They now control their own path in the race to qualify for the tournament, which will be held in Albania and Serbia in 2027.
Espi, a striker with Real Madrid, opened his international account in the 34th minute to make it 4-0. Spain’s official account described the goal as the forward’s first for the national team.
He added another in the 52nd minute, taking the score to 7-0, before completing his five-goal performance in the 74th minute, when Spain moved 11-0 ahead.
The 20-year-old has made a positive start to the season with Real Madrid after joining the club from Levante last summer. He signed a contract that runs until June 2031.
Espi spent three seasons with Levante, making 66 appearances and scoring 20 goals. Before receiving his first call-up to the Under-21 squad during the current international break, he had represented Spain at Under-19 and Under-20 level.
His display was the highlight of a commanding team performance, with Spain maintaining complete control throughout the match and recording a result that further established their lead in the group.
The forward’s first goal came after Spain had already built a substantial advantage, while his second made it seven. By the time he completed his hat-trick of later goals and reached five overall, Spain had turned the fixture into one of the biggest victories of their qualifying campaign.
Spain will now prepare for their final match against Romania, knowing that victory would preserve their position at the summit. Their two-point advantage over Finland means the outcome remains in their hands as they pursue a place at the 2027 European Under-21 Championship.