A thunderous David Villa strike was enough to give Spain a morale-boosting victory against World Cup holders Italy in Elche last night and extend Luis Aragonés's boys unbeaten run to fourteen games.

In a thrilling encounter packed with chances for both sides, Luca Toni seemed to have broken the deadlock in the first half but his effort was ruled out for offside before Camoranesi rattled the crossbar with Casillas beaten.

Fernando Torres was substituted at half time after testing Buffon on several occasions with other mainly long-range, speculative, first half efforts from the likes of Silva, Xavi and Cesc.

As the pace of the game dropped after the interval, it took his replacement until thirteen minutes before the final whistle to register his first shot on goal, but it was worth waiting for.

The otherwise impeccable Buffon took off slightly late, but got agonisingly close to getting his fingertips to Villa's fabulous left-foot drive from just inside the area that flew into the top left corner.

1. Spain: Casillas, Ramos (Arbeloa, min 74), Marchena, Puyol (Albiol, min 17), Capdevila, Senna (Riera, min 58), Iniesta, Xavi, Cesc (Luis García, min 68), Silva (Xabi Alonso, min 58), and Torres (Villa, min 46).

0. Italy: Buffon, Panucci (Zambrota, min 68), Materazzi (Barzagli, min 46), Cannavaro, Grosso, Camoranesi, De Rossi, Pirlo (Gatusso, min 46), Perrotta (Aquiliani, min 60), Di Natale (Iaquinta, min 75) and Toni (Borriello, min 46).

Goal: 1-0 (min 77): David Villa.