Switzerland vs Spain Preview & Prediction

Switzerland vs Spain prediction and match preview for Thursday’s UEFA Nations League clash. Read on for analysis and predicted lineups as La Roja travel to Geneva.

Match Preview

Spain’s third match of their latest UEFA Nations League campaign sees them travel to Switzerland this Thursday. Having started out with two draws, Luis Enrique’s side really need to put maximum points on the board to bolster their chances of winning the group and heading to the Finals.

Having drawn in Seville against Portugal in their opening game, La Roja were in Prague last time out and were made to sweat by a competitive Czech side. Despite enjoying a huge 80% share of the ball, Spain twice fell behind and ultimately needed a late goal from Inigo Martinez to rescue a point. That could prove very significant in the final reckoning, although Spain do already have ground to make up on both Portugal and the Czech Republic, who are tied on 4 points at the top.

One advantage Spain do have as we reach the third and fourth games of this busy stint of Nations League action is squad depth. There is genuine competition for places right across this team and Luis Enrique is likely to revert to something closer to his strongest lineup after experienced players such as Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets were rested in Prague.

Switzerland meanwhile are already in serious danger of suffering relegation into the lower tier after back-to-back defeats to start their campaign. They were hammered 4-0 in Portugal last time out with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice past young keeper Gregor Kobel. Lose here and they will have a mountain to climb in their final three games if they want to avoid finishing last in this group.

This is of course a rematch of the Euro 2020 Quarter-Final between the sides last summer when Spain progressed on penalties in St Petersburg. Spain had the better of that clash, registering 28 attempts on goal across the 120 minutes but as has often been the case in recent years, wasteful finishing was a problem, although in the end it was the Swiss’ failure to convert from 12 yards that ultimately settled the tie.

Possible Lineups (via Sofascore)

Score Prediction: Switzerland 1-2 Spain

We should see a stronger XI from Spain than the one we got in Prague and with Switzerland having made a really poor start to this competition, La Roja may just have the edge here. Spain’s depth across the pitch will help them bring fresh legs in and that could prove decisive both in this game and at the weekend when the Czechs come to Malaga.

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