Spain boss Julen Lopetegui has hailed his team for keeping their "patience" in Sunday night's 2-0 victory over Albania.

La Roja had to wait until the second period to make the breakthrough in the 2018 World Cup qualifier, but it proved to be a comfortable second 45 minutes for the visitors from the point that Diego Costa registered.

The victory has moved Spain to the top of Group G, and newly-appointed boss Lopetegui has paid tribute to his side for keeping calm despite a frustrating opening half in Shkoder.

"We had patience to wait for our moment, work it and then take it. It wouldn't have been the first time we controlled a game but that at the end we were wrong, that we didn't do what we needed to do and didn't win. The objective was to win and I think we had a good match," Lopetegui told reporters.

"We worked for our moment on this pitch, where few teams go with no chances. Here, France lost and it went very badly for Portugal. We did things right and were lucky to have had success early in the second half and thus play with more serenity."

Lopetegui replaced Vicente del Bosque at the helm after the experienced boss stood down following a disappointing Euro 2016 which saw Spain eliminated in the round of 16.