With 10 minutes gone in Tbilisi, Giorgi Gocholeishvili’s unfortunate handball saw La Roja awarded a penalty, and Mikel Oyazarbal, making his 50th international appearance, sent Giorgi Mamardashvili the wrong way to give the visitors the lead.
Any attacking from Georgia was sporadic and almost always went through talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Alex Baena’s daisy cutter came back off the woodwork as Spain continued to pressurise their hosts, and when Martin Zubimendi nipped in to stab home a second at the first half’s midway point, the game already looked a lost cause for Georgia.
The hosts still hadn’t managed a shot on target in the opening half-hour, despite the best efforts of Zuriko Davitashvili.
Each time Georgia looked to have a run on the Spanish defence, the visitors quickly got back in numbers, and their frontmen were lethal when chances arose.
Baena soon fed Oyazarbal, who crossed for Ferran Torres to tap home from inside the six-yard box. The half ended as it had begun, with Spain on the front foot and in total control, with Mamardashvili’s incredible reflexes stopping Oyazarbal from grabbing a fourth in stoppage time.
Georgia debutant Iuri Tabatadze powered a header goalwards at the beginning of the second half as the hosts briefly threatened. Though they saw a lot more of the ball, and Anzor Mekvabishvili’s long-range effort was on target, Spain rarely looked troubled.
After a few half-chances had been passed up, Oyazarbal looped a header back in the direction it came and saw the ball go in off the post for the visitors’ fourth.
That truly put the seal on Spain’s victory - their fifth in succession in this qualifying cycle - and means they’ll be at next summer’s finals barring an incredible loss against Turkey. It was also Georgia’s ninth loss against La Roja in 10 games, conceding 24 goals in the last five meetings.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mikel Oyazarbal (Spain)