Spain is preparing to host Switzerland on Monday night for a highly anticipated UEFA Nations League clash. Where Spain has already booked their spot in the playoffs, Switzerland fell short as they will miss the quarterfinals of the tournament. With the stage set at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez on Monday, fans can still expect an exciting and pivotal match in the season.
Match Details
Match: Spain vs Switzerland
Stadium: Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez
Time: Nov 18, 2024 at 7.45 pm UK
Spain vs Switzerland: Preview
Spain might not have been at their best against Denmark on Friday, but they still delivered a composed and effective performance. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Ayoze Pérez secured a 2-1 win in Copenhagen, cementing La Roja’s dominance in Group 4 of League A.
As reigning Nations League and European champion, having defeated Croatia in the 2022-23 final and England in the Euro 2024 decider, Spain remains unbeaten in competitive play since March 2023. With Monday’s match carrying no major stakes, Head Coach Luis de la Fuente is expected to rotate his lineup and give other squad members a chance to shine.
Switzerland, by contrast, has endured a disappointing campaign. After losing their first three matches to Denmark, Spain, and Serbia, they salvaged a 2-2 draw against Denmark at home last month. On Friday, they played to a 1-1 draw with Serbia in Zurich, where Zeki Amdouni’s opener was canceled out by Aleksa Terzić’s late equalizer.
However, Spain’s emphatic 4-1 victory in their earlier group stage meeting this season underlines the gap in form between the two teams. With Switzerland’s struggles in the 2024-25 Nations League, they’ll be looking for a strong finish to salvage some pride, even in a game with little on the line.
Spain vs Switzerland: Team News
Spain will head into their upcoming match with some notable changes to their squad. Martín Zubimendi, Álex Baena, and Mikel Oyarzabal have been released, though Oyarzabal would have been unavailable due to suspension. To bolster the team, Atlético Madrid’s rising star Pablo Barrios has earned his first senior call-up and will be eager to make an impression. Additionally, Pau Cubarsí, Bryan Gil, and Bryan Zaragoza—who missed the clash against Denmark—are now available, with Head Coach Luis de la Fuente planning significant squad rotations.
Álvaro Morata is expected to return as the focal point in attack, while Nico Williams is also in line for a starting role. Another player to watch is 20-year-old Forward Samu Omorodion, who has been in red-hot form for Porto, scoring 12 goals in 13 matches this season. He could see some minutes on the field as well.
For Switzerland, Head Coach Murat Yakin is preparing to rotate his squad after their game against Serbia. Players like Dereck Kutesa, Joel Monteiro, and Andi Zeqiri are likely candidates for the starting XI. Although neither side has much on the line, Switzerland will be eager to end their campaign with a positive result. Key figures like Granit Xhaka and Manuel Akanji are expected to provide leadership on the pitch. Meanwhile, leading scorer Breel Embolo, who has netted 15 goals for his country, may be rested to give other players a chance to shine.
Predicted Lineups
Spain: Raya; Mingueza, Vivian, Laporte, Grimaldo; Merino, Ruiz; Nico Williams, Olmo, Pino; Morata
Switzerland: Kobel; Fernandes, Cömert, Akanji, Rodríguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Monteiro, Amdouni, Kutesa; Zeqiri
Spain vs Switzerland: Prediction
Although the qualifications have already been decided, the match will be a great watch as both teams are stacked with high-quality players. Those three points are critical and both teams will do their best to secure them. Spain has an edge to win the fixture by a close margin. However, as they have been in the past few matches, Switzerland won’t stay quiet and will be lethal enough on counter-attacks.
