Xabi Alonso played the full ninety minutes against Northern Ireland while Luis Garcia was a 63rd minute replacement for Fernando Torres. Neither could prevent Spain falling to a David Healey hat-trick.
Alonso claimed Spain would not under estimate Northern Ireland after watching them beat England last season, but Northern Ireland's performance must have been a shock to the Spanish after their weak 3-0 surrender to Iceland on Saturday.
Pepe Reina was again an unused subsitute for Spain.