Switzerland welcome Andorra to Sion for a Euro 2024 qualifier on Tuesday night.

The Swiss remain top of Group I after five matchdays and will fully expect to remain there facing the group's weakest outfit here.

Match preview

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Murat Yakin's men had an almighty slip-up at the weekend, throwing away two points at the death for the second game in a row.

In Kosovan capital Prishtina, Vedat Muriqi's 95th-minute equaliser saw the spoils shared, as Switzerland conceded the lead twice to draw 2-2.

That result leaves their fate still hanging in the balance, despite them being three points ahead of third-placed Israel.

Switzerland still need to face Israel away and also Romania, who are currently second and also snatched a draw against them in June.

An outrageous collapse at home to Romania saw them lead 2-0 on 89 minutes and still only manage to draw.

Four points dropped in two games makes the visit of Andorra most welcome, given the likelihood of Switzerland claiming a very straightforward three points.

Switzerland beat Liechtenstein, the bottom seeds of their previous qualifying section, 7-0 at home, and they have already won 5-0 over Belarus in this campaign.

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Andorra gave Switzerland a big scare in the reverse fixture though, getting themselves back in the game after the Swiss ran into a 2-0 lead.

The 2-1 scoreline was a repeat of that seen in Andorra when the sides met in 2018 World Cup qualifying, the same campaign which saw the Swiss win 3-0 at home.

For Andorra, two points from their five qualifiers so far is a big success, given that they were drawn as bottom seeds.

Holding Kosovo and Belarus to 0-0 draws is a notable achievement for the microstate, and two very unfortunate 2-1 defeats to Switzerland and Israel proves that they are not the huge underdogs they once were.

Eight points from six games in their Nations League group last year has seen confidence steadily rise.

However, more victories would be most welcome, as in the last four years, Andorra have only recorded wins over four nations - San Marino, Liechtenstein (both twice), Grenada and Saint Kitts & Nevis.

Team News

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Switzerland are without main striker Breel Embolo for this international window, so Burnley's Zeki Amdouni is set to start again.

The level of opposition could see Yakin go with more attacking options though, so AC Milan new boy Noah Okafor may also feature.

Xherdan Shaqiri, Amdouni and Ruben Vargas were the trio who started in Prishtina, and Cedric Itten will also be hoping for a look in given his recent form with Young Boys.

Remo Freuler was on form in Kosovo just a week after swapping Nottingham Forest for Bologna, netting the opener and also causing the second goal, after his shot was deflected in for an own goal by Amir Rrahmani.

Andorra's record cap holder and goalscorer Ildefons Lima is still in the squad at 43, but the veteran is unlikely to feature.

Lima's FC Andorra teammate Berto Rosas is in the squad and will be the most threatening option in attack.

Rosas netted in their defeat to Israel in June, before travelling back home to score the following day for Andorra's Under-21s.

Villarreal B goalkeeper Iker Alvarez shows great promise and should continue between the sticks here.

Switzerland possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Fernandes, Akanji, Schar, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka, Amdouni; Shaqiri, Okafor, Vargas

Andorra possible starting lineup:
Iker Alvarez; San Nicolas, Llovera, Alavedra, Cervos; Jordi Alaez, Marc Pujol, Marc Vales, Alex Martinez; Vieira, Rosas

We say: Switzerland 5-0 Andorra

Switzerland need to get back on track after two disappointing collapses, and Andorra should be the perfect opponents to do so against.

The visitors have not yet suffered any damaging defeats in this section, but in a meeting of top seeds versus bottom seeds, Andorra have very little chance here.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Andrew Delaney

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