Friendly international

Spain 1 - Scotland 1 (match abandoned)

Spain: Casillas; López Rekarte, Puyol, Marchena (Iván Helguera 58'), Del Horno; Joaquín, Xabi Alonso, Baraja (Valerón 46'), Reyes; Tamudo (Raúl 46'), Fernando Torres (Vicente 46'). 4-4-2.
Scotland: Gordon; Caldwell, Webster, MacKay, Naysmith; McNamara; Fletcher (Cameron 58'), Ferguson, Quashie; Crawford (Miller 58'), McFadden (Pearson 46'). 4-1-3-2.

Goals:
0-1. 18. Baraja. Deflected ball past Casillas from McFadden wide free kick.
1-1. 57. Raúl (penalty). After Reyes tripped by McNamara in six yard box.

Spain's last warm up game before their opening World Cup qualifier came to an unfortunate end when a floodlight failure and a heavy rainstorm ended the match prematurely at Levante's Ciudad de Valencia stadium. Luis Aragonés started the match with an experimental line up, with full backs López Rekarte and Del Horno both making their full international debut, Tamudo and Fernando Torres starting up front and England based Xabi Alonso and Reyes also in the side.

They were kept under control though by a solid and at times over-physical Scotland defence, and Puyol had to clear off the line from a Ferguson free kick with Casillas beaten on the quarter hour mark. And a minute later the Scots went in front when Baraja tried to head clear an inswinging McFadden free kick from out near the right corner flag, and only succeeded in deflecting past his own keeper.

By now the windy conditions were making play difficult, and Scotland could have increased the lead if Casillas had not stood up to Crawford when he broke free of the defence. Tamudo was unlucky to be ruled offside in Spain's best attacking move, but French referee Stephane Bré let them off the hook when Marchena blocked the ball with his upper arm in the penalty area.

Aragonés made three changes at half time, bringing on Raúl, Vicente and Valerón, an unexpected move as far as Raúl was concerned as he everyone thought he would be rested for this game after picking up a knock at the weekend. But the Spanish captain proved to be decisive, levelling the match from the penalty spot after Reyes was sandwiched between Webster and McNamara in the six yard box trying to reach Raúl's cross. It was the Real Madrid forward's 39th goal for his country, and was the first penalty he had taken in official games since his miss against France in the Euro 2000 championship.

Both managers made changes after the goal, with Helguera coming on for Marchena. But only a minute later the floodlights went out and the players left the pitch to wait. Before they could return though a torrential rainstorm flooded the ground, and after a short wait the referee decided to call off the match. It was a frustrating night all round, and Aragonés now has to decide what line up to put out next Wednesday in their opening match against Bosnia. It won't be an easy choice.