Spain's trip to play group leaders France on Tuesday assumed even greater significance after a shock 1-1 home draw with Finland left the champions contemplating the playoffs to make the World Cup finals.
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Some resolute defending and Teemu Pukki's 79th- minute strike on the counter-attack left Vicente del Bosque's side second in Group I, two points behind France with four games left to play.
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Only one team from each group earns direct qualification for the finals in Brazil next year, with the eight best runners-up entering a play-off for the last four European berths.
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"Another big slip-up," was the frontpage headline in sports daily Marca on Saturday, after a second consecutive home draw in qualifying following last October's 1-1 draw with France.
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"The World Cup is in danger," read Sport's frontpage, but the message from the team itself was less alarmist.
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"We completely dominated for 90 minutes but we didn't have luck in the final third," coach Del Bosque, who guided the team to victory at the 2010 World Cup and at Euro 2012, told a news conference.
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"We have been touched by a magic wand in terms of luck in recent years, but we didn't have any today.
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"There is no need to be pessimistic because we still hold our destiny in our own hands. We have to go to France and win and after that there are still three more games."
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Finland coach Mixu Paatelainen said he had studied Barcelona matches to find the best way to foil Spain, who started with seven players from the La Liga leaders.
They do not need to be scared. All they need to focus on now is how to beat France hands down. Thee match would be classy