Spain blew Argentina away on Tuesday but coach Julen lopetegui insists they can take nothing for granted at this summer's World Cup.
A 6-1 demolition, which included an Isco hat-trick at the Wanda Metropolitano, underlined Spain's credentials as one of the tournament favourites in Russia, while exposing Argentina, who were without the injured lionel Messi.
Diego Costa was back in Spain's starting line-up for the first time in eight international matches and he marked his return with the opening goal.
Isco then scored twice either side of what proved to be no more than a consolation from Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi, before Thiago Alcantara, substitute Iago Aspas and Isco's third completed the rout.
"I am very satisfied with a win against the finalists of the previous World Cup," lopetegui said. "It is an opponent that has a fantastic history, but nothing else, it does not change anything, we have to start the World Cup with zero points (in the group stage)."
As irresistible as Spain were going forward, Argentina were lamentable at the back and coach Jorge Sampaoli will have questions to answer with the World Cup less than three months away.
"I have to take responsibility," Sampaoli said.
Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria were also out injured but Argentina's problem was less creating chances than containing Spain's as Costa, Isco and Marco Asensio simply proved too quick to catch.
Asensio is likely still to give way to David Silva but Costa showed he is ready to be Spain's main striker, this game completing his reintegration after an autumn disrupted by his Chelsea departure.
It was a harrowing night for Argentina but perhaps not a good one either for Alvaro Morata. Costa's goal, coming before Aspas entered as a substitute to score one and set up two more, meant the Chelsea forward was hardly missed.
"We decided to put Diego in, we thought it was what we needed," lopetegui said. "In the second half, Diego had a problem and we wanted to see Iago. They will both be full of confidence, along with all the players that come with us."
Without Messi, Gonzalo Higuain was the visitors' principle threat up front, with Ever Banega, Maximiliano Meza and Giovani lo Celso given the chance to impress behind him in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
For Spain, lopetegui adopted a 4-3-3, with Isco and Asensio either side of Costa, and Thiago, Andres Iniesta and Koke again forming an attacking midfield trio.
For the first goal, Costa put his body where others might not, bundling the ball in between the leaping Fabricio Bustos and goalkeeper Sergio Romero, the latter forced off as a result and replaced by Willy Caballero.
Cabellero was then at fault for Spain's second, as his poor clearance landed at the feet of Thiago. Three passes later, the last from Asensio, allowed Isco to sidefoot home.
Argentina pulled one back before half-time when Otamendi headed in Banega's cross but their defence would only keep them competitive for so long.
With Costa substituted, Aspas made an instant impact, setting up Isco and then Thiago, before scoring himself after De Gea's long pass.
Isco guided into the corner for his hat-trick in the 74th minute. Argentina looked relieved when the final whistle blew.
maradona backs ARG
Football legend Diego Maradona has taken to social media to express support for Argentina's national team following a 6-1 loss to Spain in Madrid.
The result at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium represented Argentina's worst defeat since 2009, when an Albiceleste team coached by Maradona fell 6-1 to Bolivia in la Paz.
"Right now all we can do is improve," Maradona wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.
"let's go Argentina, always."
The positivity of Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina as a player in 1986, was not shared by the country's major newspapers. Clarin was among those to pour scorn on Jorge Sampaoli's side, which struggled in the absence of injured talisman lionel Messi.
"Argentina is lacking world-class players in decisive positions," it said. "How many Argentine footballers can say they have (Andres) Iniesta's talent to pass the ball and organise playIJ How many come close to the silky skills of IscoIJ
"How many central midfielders are as accomplished as Sergio Busquets.... how many central defenders are at the same level as (Gerard) Pique and Sergio RamosIJ All the questions have the same answer: none."