Italy 0 - Spain 0

Italy: Curci; Potenza, Andreoli, Mantovani, Chiellini; Nocerino, Rosina (Padoin 82'), Montolivo, Aquilani, Palladino (Rossi 57'); Pozzi (Pellé 68'). 4-5-1.
Spain: Moyà; Javier Flaño. Melli, Raúl Albiol, Garrido; Zapater, Raúl García; Arizmendi (Cazorla 79'), David Silva (Jurado 71'), Gavilán; Kepa. 4-2-3-1.

Goals: None.

Spain's under 21 side came away from Italy with a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the qualifying play-off for next summer's European finals. Despite lining up with eleven players who are currently playing in the Spanish first division, the youngsters hardly managed to create a scoring chance against a well organised defence. Kepa did have a penalty appeal turned down in the opening minutes and the Slovakian referee also waved away claims for a hand ball later on, but the first real shot at goal didn't come until well into the second half, when Kepa finally tested Curci.

In the end though it was left to Mallorca keeper Moyà to save the match, in particular with two second half saves from Rosina and another from Pellé. And with the game coming to an end Italy should have won it when the keeper could only push out another shot into the path of Pellé, who somehow missed the target from a couple of yards out. A good result to take back to Spain though for next Tuesday's second leg, and a win in Palencia will see them through to the final stage, which will take place in Holland. The country's participation in the 2008 Olympic Games depends on it.