Fabio Quagliarella made history during Italy’s 6-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein, while an Alvaro Morata double sealed a 2-0 win for Spain in their Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Italy vs Liechtenstein

Fabio Quagliarella became the oldest goal-scorer in his country’s history as Italy romped to a 6-0 win over 10-man Liechtenstein in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Aged 36 years and 54 days, Quagliarella scored two first-half penalties and was later substituted to a standing ovation, having marked his first competitive start since October 2009 in style.

It was a night of milestones in Parma, Stefano Sensi getting his first international goal in only his second appearance to open the scoring, and Marco Verratti netting his first for Italy in over six years.

Liechtenstein’s Daniel Kaufmann was sent off just before half-time when conceding Quagliarella’s second penalty, with Juventus star Moise Kean scoring for a second successive game before substitute Leonardo Pavoletti notched a debut goal.

The breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute, Sassuolo midfielder Sensi heading high past Benjamin Buchel from 10 yards after a left-wing cross from Leonardo Spinazzola.

Gianluca Mancini fired over from six yards as he missed the chance to mark his debut with a goal, but Verratti made no mistake in the 32nd minute, dispossessing Sandro Wolfinger and sending a fine finish into the far corner from 12 yards.

Moments after Alessio Romagnoli had a header cleared off the line, Nicolas Hasler handled in the box, allowing Quagliarella to score from the spot, the veteran sending his effort straight down the middle.

Kean hit the bar as Italy threatened a fourth, which arrived three minutes into first-half stoppage time when Kaufmann was dismissed, having been adjudged to have stopped Verratti’s effort on the line with his arm, Quagliarella this time slotting into the bottom-left corner.

After the break, Maximilian Goppel hacked Spinazzola’s chip off the line and Romagnoli tapped a glorious close-range chance wide. But a fifth goal did arrive with 21 minutes left, Kean heading in from two yards out after Spinazzola’s cross was flicked on by strike partner Quagliarella.

Pavoletti, who had just replaced Quagliarella, struck next in the 76th minute, converting on the rebound after Buchel had saved his initial header.

Malta vs Spain

An Alvaro Morata brace proved decisive as Spain laboured to a 2-0 win away to Malta in the absence of coach Luis Enrique, making it two wins in as many games in Euro 2020 qualifying.

It was announced earlier on Tuesday that Luis Enrique would not be at the game due to a family emergency, though there never looked to be any danger of an upset under the guidance of assistant Robert Moreno.

Although it took them longer to make the breakthrough than they would have wished, Morata put Spain ahead in the 31st minute, with Malta having just 16% of the ball in the first half.

The visitors continued to underwhelm, despite their dominance in the second half, though Morata doubled his tally towards the end to wrap up a comfortable – albeit unimpressive – victory.

Spain unsurprisingly dominated proceedings and Saul Niguez looked their most likely route to goal. The midfielder shot agonisingly wide from distance in the 16th minute, shortly before slicing a more presentable opportunity over from 12 yards out.

Morata made no such error just past the half-hour mark, however, racing on to Mario Hermoso’s pass and beating Henry Bonello – who got a hand to the ball – from a tight angle.

Spain stepped things up again around the hour, going close three times in as many minutes, Morata sending a header just wide before Marco Asensio forced Bonello into two smart saves.

But Bonello was helpless 17 minutes from time, as Morata rose to meet the cross of Jesus Navas – introduced for Saul a few moments earlier – and finish Malta off.

In other Euro 2020 qualifiers:

Armenia 0-2 Finland
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-2 Greece
Norway 3-3 Sweden
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia
Romania 4-1 Faroe Islands
Switzerland 3-3 Denmark