SKOPJE - Spain stayed ahead of Italy in the fight for automatic qualification for next year's World Cup as David Silva and Diego Costa tallied in Sunday's 2-1 win over Macedonia.

The two European giants are tied atop Group G of UEFA qualifying with 16 points after Italy saw off Liechtenstein 5-0 in Udine.

But Spain has a superior goal difference and hosts the Azzurri in a qualifier at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu on Sept 2.