Spain could potentially book their place in the finals of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League when they welcome Switzerland to Zaragoza for Saturday’s League A Group 2 clash.
La Roja currently sit one point clear of Portugal at the top of the standings, while their visitors are at risk of being relegated to League B with defeat.
The current Spain crop may no longer strike fear into the hearts of teams with the same ferocity as in 2010, but Luis Enrique’s side can still be considered as genuine World Cup contenders by some ahead of the journey to Qatar.
La Roja have been paired with Costa Rica, Japan and Germany in Group E and also have the chance to seal first place in their Nations League group this week, as they aim to go one better than last year’s defeat to France in the showpiece event.
Enrique’s men have taken eight points from a possible 12 to open up a one-point gap over second-placed Portugal – whom they will meet on matchday six – as goals from Carlos Soler and Pablo Sarabia propelled them to a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in their most recent game.
Should Spain get the better of Switzerland and the Czech Republic claim a surprise win over Portugal this weekend, Enrique’s side will seal their place in the Nations League finals, but it could all come down to the clash of the Iberian giants next week.
An eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions stands Spain in good stead before the visit of Switzerland, and not since October 2018 have La Roja suffered defeat of any sort on home soil, although that was in the inaugural Nations League against England.
Spain fans will be rooting against Switzerland on Saturday, but La Roja would have undoubtedly been cheering the basement side on during their matchday four clash with Portugal, as they upset the apple cart to run out 1-0 winners in Geneva.
Haris Seferovic took just 57 seconds to head home the game’s only goal and keep Switzerland’s hopes of survival in League A alive, but a first-ever relegation to League B is still a real possibility for Murat Yakin’s side, who lost their first three games of the 2022-23 Nations League.
The gap to third-placed Czech Republic is only standing at one point, meaning that the Swiss could usurp their League A rivals with victory in Zaragoza, but their relegation could also be sealed with defeat if Jaroslav Silhavy’s side overcome Portugal.
Cameroon, Brazil and Serbia will await Switzerland in a challenging World Cup group later this year, so facing opponents of such high calibre in the Nations League will only benefit the Rossocrociati’s chances of holding their own in Qatar, but they travel to Spain having lost each of their last three away games in all competitions.
Pablo Sarabia scored the only goal as Spain ran out 1-0 winners over Switzerland when the sides met in June, and the Rossocrociati have only ever won one of their 24 previous clashes with La Roja, which came in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup.
Spain form (all competitions):
WWDDWW
Switzerland form (all competitions):
LDLLLW
We say: Spain 2-0 Switzerland
History ought to repeat itself for Switzerland this week, as the Rossocrociati have notably struggled for results against Spain in decades gone by, and their recent spate of losses on the road will do them no favours here either.
With Spain aiming to lay down a marker ahead of the World Cup and consistently able to produce the goods in front of their own fans, we can only picture La Roja coming out on top in a match that may seal the fates of both teams.