Sports Desk
MADRID: Spain will face Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday at Real Madrid’s Valdebabas training ground.
The Spanish go into the match on the back of a 0-0 draw in a friendly away to Portugal, which was far more entertaining than the scoreline suggests, and in which players such as Adama Traore and Dani Olmo showed the range of resources available to coach Luis Enrique.
Traore played the last half hour as a substitute in a thrilling cameo in which he showed his power and lightning speed, while Olmo showed intelligence linking midfield and attack.
Luis Enrique will make changes to his side on Saturday with goalkeeper David de Gea likely to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga, who will have been happy to keep a clean sheet in Lisbon after his recent troubles at Chelsea.
Sergio Ramos will also be back in defense, with Jesus Navas at right-back and Jose Luis Gaya on the left after Sergio Reguilon picked up a knock to his knee.
Arguably the player most fans will want to see is Barcelona’s 18-year-old forward Ansu Fati, who was rested in midweek. Ansu will partner either Rodrigo Moreno or Gerard Moreno, and Luis Enrique will have to decide whether he gives Traore a chance in his starting 11 or continues with Olmo.
It’s still not certain whether Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal will be able to take part after he was unable to travel to Lisbon after an inconclusive COVID-19 test.
Spain are in a good position in their Nations League group after sneaking a late goal that gave them a 1-1 draw away to Germany in their opening game in September, and followed that up with a 4-0 demolition of Ukraine in which Ansu scored an excellent debut goal.
The Swiss need a positive result from their visit to Madrid after losing to Ukraine and being held at home by Germany, but with players such as Granit Xhaka in their side they are likely to provide another stiff test for Spain.
