Aymeric Laporte showed exactly why Spain wanted him to change his national allegiance earlier this year, with a brilliant challenge on Alexander Isak during Thursday's World Cup qualifier.
Laporte was born in France but somehow failed to earn an international cap for his country, despite being called up to the squad on a couple of occasions.
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In May this year he was granted dual nationality for Spain and was soon called up to their national team for the summer's Euros, where he played in every single game for the country in their run to the semi-finals.
On Thursday night he was back in action for Luis Enrique's side, as they continued their attempts to qualify for next winter's World Cup in Qatar, and proved exactly why his new country wanted him.
In the 78th minute, Isak, who thrilled during the summer's tournament, ran through into the box and looked certain to score when Laporte made an incredible recovery run and huge tackle to deny the Real Sociedad forward.
Laporte's brilliant defending wasn't enough to save the 2010 World Cup winners was suffering defeat, as they slipped behind their opponents in Group B.
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Carlos Soler made his debut in midfield for the national side, with Barcelona's Pedri rested after playing in the Euros and the Olympics this summer, and made an instant impact.
The Valencia midfielder appeared at the back post, following a brilliant lofted cross from Jordi Alba, to make it 1-0 after just four minutes, with his first shot on target in international football.
The lead only lasted one minute however, as Isak levelled things up in the fifth minute, the Sociedad striker pounced on a Sergio Busquets error and shot from the edge of the box to make it 1-1.
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Viktor Claesson made it 2-1 on 57 minutes, firing home after Dejan Kulusevski's pass, to earn the hosts all three points and leave them with a 100% record after three matches in the qualifiers.
It was Spain's first loss in a World Cup qualifier in 28 years and left them two points behind their rivals, having played a game more.
They face Georgia and Kosovo in the next week before facing Greece and then the second game against Sweden in November, after the Nations League finals in October.
Featured Image Credit: beIN SportTopics: Football, Football World Cup, Spain, Sweden, Aymeric Laporte, Manchester City, Alexander Isak
