UEFA Nations League

[monks data]

Nations League | League A

Nov 14, 2020 at 7.45pm UK

St. Jakob-Park

Switzerland
1 - 1
Spain

Freuler (26')
Elvedi (15'), Embolo (58'), Freuler (72')
Elvedi (79')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Moreno (89')

Preview: Switzerland vs. Spain - prediction, team news, lineups

By Matt Law, Football Editor

Published: November 12 2020 | 10:40

Last updated: June 5 2024 | 13:46

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Nations League clash between Switzerland and Spain, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Spain will be looking to return to winning ways in the UEFA Nations League when they continue their League A Group 4 campaign away to Switzerland on Saturday night.

La Roja are currently top of their section with seven points to show from four matches, while Switzerland are bottom, having only picked up two points from their four fixtures.

Match preview

Switzerland's Mario Gavranovic celebrates scoring against Germany with teammates in the UEFA Nations League on October 13, 2020 © Reuters

It was always going to be tough for Switzerland to make a serious impression in this group considering the presence of both Spain and Germany, but they will be slightly disappointed to also be behind Ukraine.

A record of two points from four matches has left them bottom of the group, although they did pick up an impressive point away to Germany in their last Nations League fixture on October 13.

Switzerland also only lost 1-0 to Spain in the reverse match, but Vladimir Petkovic's team are without a victory in any competition since last November and went down 2-1 to Belgium in a friendly on Wednesday night.

A-Team will be present at next summer's European Championships, though, having finished top of their qualification group with an impressive 17 points from eight matches.

Switzerland have only won one of their six competitive matches with Spain - a 1-0 victory during the group stage of the 2010 World Cup, and as mentioned, suffered a 1-0 loss in the reverse match in this tournament.

Spain players celebrate Mikel Oyarzabal's goal against Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League on October 10, 2020 © Reuters

Spain, meanwhile, are currently top of Group 4, having picked up seven points from their four matches in the section, leaving them a point ahead of second-placed Germany.

Luis Enrique's side started the 2020-21 competition with a draw in Germany before beating Ukraine and Switzerland on home soil, but they surprisingly lost 1-0 in Ukraine on October 13.

La Roja will be looking to put themselves in a strong position in the section ahead of their final match at home to Germany on November 17, with that fixture shaping up to be a fascinating affair.

The 2010 world champions will enter Saturday's match off the back of a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Wednesday night; Sergio Canales sent Enrique's side ahead in the 18th minute of the friendly in Amsterdam before Donny van de Beek levelled the scores early in the second period.

Spain, like Switzerland, topped their qualification group for Euro 2020, picking up 26 points from 10 matches to finish ahead of Sweden at the summit.

Switzerland Nations League form: LLLDLD
Switzerland form (all competitions): LDLLDL

Spain Nations League form: LLDWWL
Spain form (all competitions): DWDWLD

Team News

Spain's Jose Gaya celebrates scoring against Germany in the UEFA Nations League on September 3, 2020 © Reuters

There are expected to be plenty of familiar names in the Switzerland XI on Saturday night, with Arsenal's Granit Xhaka and Liverpool's Xherdan Shaqiri both likely to be in the starting side.

Mario Gavranovic scored twice in the draw with Germany last month, and the 30-year-old should keep his spot in the final third of the field alongside Haris Seferovic.

Experienced duo Yann Sommer and Ricardo Rodriguez should also feature in the XI, while Steven Zuber and Remo Freuler are expected to feature in midfield.

As for Spain, there will have to be changes from the side that started against Ukraine, with Ansu Fati injured and Rodrigo Moreno unavailable due to a positive coronavirus test.

Alvaro Morata is back in the squad and started against the Netherlands on Wednesday, with the Juventus forward leading the line in a 4-3-3 formation.

Morata should earn another start here, while Marco Asensio could also feature alongside Mikel Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres as part of a front four.

Enrique has plenty of options for change, but there could again be a spot at right-back for Hector Bellerin, while David de Gea is expected to get the nod between the sticks.

Switzerland possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Zuber, Freuler, Xhaka, Shaqiri; Gavranovic, Seferovic

Spain possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Bellerin, Ramos, Torres, Gaya; Merino, Busquets; Oyarzabal, Torres, Asensio; Morata

SM words green background

We say: Switzerland 1-2 Spain

Switzerland are more than capable of making it a very tough 90 minutes for Spain, who were poor against Ukraine in their last match in the section. We are expecting a tight encounter but believe that La Roja will secure an important three points courtesy of a narrow win.

Top betting tip

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