Postpublished at 33 mins
Spain 2-0 Argentina
Argentina have had their chances.
Moments before they fell 2-0 behind, Ever Banega fired wide after a lovely one-two but, make no mistake, the visitors are badly missing Lionel Messi.
Summary
Spain unbeaten in 17 games
No Lionel Messi for Argentina
Spain 2010 World Cup winners; Argentina 2014 runners-up
Postpublished at 33 mins
Postpublished at 30 mins
Spain 2-0 Argentina
When was the last time a Real Madrid player had his name chanted by tens of thousands of fans inside Atletico's ground?
"Isco, Isco, Isco," echoes around the Wanda Metropolitano.
Spain are full value for their lead.
Image source, Reuters
GOAL - Spain 2-0 Argentinapublished at 27 mins
Isco
Willy Caballero has only been on the pitch a few moments and he is forced to fish the ball out of the back of his net.
Spain are playing some delicious football and it's another wonderful move which opens up the Argentina defence and allows Isco to side-foot his side further ahead.
What's going on with Argentina's defence? Isco is totally unmarked as he scores.
Image source, Getty ImagesSUBSTITUTIONpublished at 23 mins
Spain 1-0 Argentina
That was short and not so sweet for Sergio Romero.
Manchester United's Argentina goalkeeper was hurt while trying to keep out Diego Costa's goal and is unable to continue.
He is replaced by Chelsea's Willy Caballero. The 36-year-old won his first cap for his country on Friday.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 20 mins
Spain 1-0 Argentina
Gerard Pique has the ball at his feet. That sparks jeers from tens of thousands of Spain fans. Crazy!
Postpublished at 17 mins
Spain 1-0 Argentina
Thousands of Spain flags are being waved by fans after Diego Costa's seventh goal for his adopted country. The Brazil-born forward is back on his feet chasing the down the ball after being hurt while scoring.
This game is being played at a ridiculous pace. It's helter-skelter, end-to-end.
GOAL - Spain 1-0 Argentinapublished at 13 mins
Diego Costa
Spain have the lead and it's Diego Costa on his home patch.
Great link up play involving Andres Iniesta tees-up Costa inside the penalty area and he blasts home before being clattered.
He's hurt in the process and requires treatment but Costa is able to continue.
Image source, ReutersPostpublished at 11 mins
Spain 0-0 Argentina
Poor Gerard Pique.
The Catalan defender is being jeered by Spain supporters each time he touches the ball.
Pique voted in the recent referendum and was vocal about the police violence against voters which resulted in hundreds of injuries.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 8 mins
Spain 0-0 Argentina
Huge chance for Argentina.
Gonzalo Higuain has been in great form for Juventus this season but he stabs wide in front of a gaping net after shrugging off the attentions of Sergio Ramos.
Spain are fortunate to be on level terms.
Image source, ReutersPostpublished at 5 mins
Spain 0-0 Argentina
Anthony Taylor is in for a busy night. The tackles are flying already. It's as if this game is a World Cup game rather than a friendly.
Taylor madepublished at 3 mins
Spain 0-0 Argentina
There is an Englishman on the pitch at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Anthony Taylor is the referee for this friendly.
He looks pretty pleased to be in Madrid too. All smiles from the match official at kick-off.
KICK-OFFpublished at 1 min
Spain 0-0 Argentina
Spain are playing in white shirts with a red trim while Argentina are sporting a dark kit.
We're under way.
Which players will make the plane to Russia? And who will miss out?
150 not out for Ramospublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 27 March 2018
What do you give a man who has everything?
Well, Sergio Ramos looks pretty pleased as he is presented with a framed Spain shirt with the number 150 on the back to mark the skipper's number of appearances for his country.
Image source, ReutersUnited v Unitedpublished at 20:29 British Summer Time 27 March 2018
Is Jose Mourinho is watching?
While David de Gea lines up in goal for Spain, his Manchester United team-mate Sergio Romero is between the posts for Argentina.
Romero is closing in on 100 caps for his country. That's some achievement for someone who has not played a Premier League game this season.
Image source, ReutersTeam newspublished at 20:27 British Summer Time 27 March 2018
Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa returns to the Spain team while his Atletico Madrid team-mate Koke also starts in the familiar surroundings of the Wanda Metropolitano.
There are four Real Madrid players in the side and three from Barcelona, while Manchester United keeper David de Gea and Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara also start.
Spain: De Gea, Carvajal, Pique, Ramos, Alba, Thiago, Koke, Iniesta, Isco, Asensio, Costa.
Despite the absence of Lionel Messi, Argentina's side is sprinkled with world-class talent.
Barcelona's Javier Mascherano features in midfield while Gonzalo Higuain, who has scored 15 Serie A goals for Juventus this season, also starts.
Sevilla's Ever Banega replaces Messi.
Argentina: Romero, Bustos, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico, Biglia, Mascherano, Banega, Meza, Lo Celso, Higuain.
Image source, Getty ImagesNo Messi for Argentinapublished at 20:24 British Summer Time 27 March 2018
Big team news from the visiting dressing room.
Argentina's all-time record scorer and captain Lionel Messi does not feature.
He missed the 2-0 win over Italy last Friday because of a muscle injury.
How serious is it? You can be sure boss Jorge Sampaoli will be asked that question after the game.
Image source, Getty ImagesArgentina fans out in forcepublished at 20:23 British Summer Time 27 March 2018
Argentina are a long way from home but they are certainly not lacking support.
This game is being played at Atletico Madrid's new 67,000-capacity Wanda Metropolitano stadium which will host the 2019 Champions League final.
Image source, Getty ImagesThere's plenty of blue and white flags inside and outside the ground. As well as half-and-half scarves!
Image source, ReutersHeavyweight battlepublished at 20:18 British Summer Time 27 March 2018
Tick tock...
Seventy-eight days before football's greatest show on earth begins in Moscow, heavyweights Spain and Argentina slug it out in Madrid.
This might be classed as a friendly but with the World Cup looming and a pitch full of superstars, expect an action packed match bursting with passion and pride as both teams look to gain an upper edge before heading for the "Motherland".
Image source, EPAWorld Cup countdownpublished at 20:15 British Summer Time 27 March 2018
It's eight years since Spain first ruled the world.
Image source, Getty ImagesMuch, much longer since Diego Maradona and his 'Hand of God' last won Argentina the World Cup in Mexico.
Image source, Rex FeaturesBut do either have a chance of striking gold this summer?
Image source, AFPThe next two hours could provide some vital clues as the countdown to the 2018 World Cup in Russia continues.