Spain edge Swiss, Germany beat Ukraine in Nations League

Madrid

Mikel Oyarzabal pounced on a horror slip by Swiss captain Granit Xhaka to seal a 1-0 victory for Spain in the Nations League on Saturday. The night’s other League A Group 4 match saw Germany beat Ukraine 2-1 in Kiev. At the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid, usually home of Real Madrid’s second string side, Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal struck in the 14th minute. The Swiss boldly tried to play out from the back, but Xhaka slipped as he sought to collect goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s pass. Mikel Merino pounced and threaded the ball through to clubmate Oyarzabal, who finished superbly past Sommer. “I am happy for the victory and for adding three points,” Oyarzabal told Spanish television.

“We knew that (Switzerland) were a powerful team, that they liked to play a lot and that they had fewer points than they deserved. “We also knew they were risking a lot from behind and we wanted to pressure them because we believed we could rob them and hurt them and that’s the way it worked out.” There was a golden opportunity for Oyarzabal to double his tally in the 52nd minute. Switzerland again struggled to clear their lines, Jesus Navas fizzed a cross-shot into the area which Sommer could only push into the path of Oyarzabal.

The striker’s effort, however, hit the post and went wide. It was then the turn of Merino to scuff another prime chance. On the hour mark, a badly cleared corner fell to his unfavoured right foot and he shot high and wide directly in front of goal. Sergio Ramos then saw an effort shielded away by Xhaka before a header went just wide moments later with Spain in the driving seat. Switzerland thought they had an equaliser as Xherdan Shaqiri pivoted and sent the ball spiralling into the Spanish net. But it was not to be as the referee handed Atalanta’s Remo Freuler a yellow card for a foul on Sergio Busquets in the buildup. It was then the turn of Gerard Moreno to blast high after a smart twist and turn in front of the Swiss goal after a nice ball from Sergio Canales. Unbeaten run extended Luis Enrique’s side then contented themselves with seeing out the game, extending to 14 their current unbeaten run. They have also not lost in Madrid in 20 games dating back to 1987.

“It was not an easy game, it was not a game in which we have been especially fluid,” said Enrique. “We took advantage of hard pressing to score the goal and then we had further opportunities to close down the game, but without luck.” The Spaniards top their group, having kicked off with a creditable 1-1 away draw against Germany before a sparkling 4-0 victory over Ukraine, whom they now face on Tuesday. In Kiev, Germany picked up a first win in their Nations League group with a workmanlike 2-1 away victory over the Ukrainians. Defender Matthias Ginter gave Germany a first-half lead, then Leon Goretzka capitalised on a horrible mistake by the Ukraine goalkeeper before Ruslan Malinovskyi converted a late penalty for the hosts. Germany coach Joachim Loew said he was “satisfied” with the away win, but admitted “we should have been three or four goals ahead before they scored”. “In some phases we gave the ball away too easily.” After drawing their opening Nations League games against Spain and Switzerland, then being held 3-3 by Turkey in a friendly on Wednesday, the win lifted Germany to second in the group behind Spain.