The Chelsea captain came in for Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente at right-back as La Roja faced a crucial test in Seville, needing to record their first win of the tournament to ensure progress to the last 16.
It had been a laboured start to the Euros for Spain with back-to-back draws and some criticism over their lack of penetration in the final third.
Azpilicueta’s inclusion in the team was surely not designed to solve that particular problem but the defender forced one of the first saves of the contest early on, advancing into the box to strike a low effort that Martin Dubravka, the Newcastle goalkeeper, managed to keep out. It was to prove just the start of an eventful first half for the Magpies custodian.