Switzerland secure Nations League upset over Spain

Switzerland earned a 2-1 win over Spain in the Nations League on Saturday in Zaragoza to knock Luis Enrique's side off top spot in the group.

Portugal thrashed the Czech Republic 4-0 in the other League A Group 2 clash to move two points clear of Spain, whom they host on Tuesday in the final group match.

It was Spain's first defeat in the group in five games, and one which exposed their defensive frailty from set-pieces.

Luis Enrique selected six Barcelona players in his starting line-up, including the regular midfield trio Xavi Hernandez utilises at Camp Nou, in Pedri, Gavi and Sergio Busquets.

Ferran Torres was another of the Barca clan, part of a three-pronged attack alongside Real Madrid's Marco Asensio and Paris Saint-Germain's Pablo Sarabia.

None of the three have enjoyed regular football with their clubs this season but were given Luis Enrique's trust. They did not repay it in the first half, with Spain anaemic in attack and asleep at the back when it mattered most.

Switzerland took the lead when Manchester City summer signing Manuel Akanji got the better of Cesar Azpilicueta in the air at a corner and nodded past Unai Simon in the 21st minute.

Spain struggled to create at the other end and Switzerland almost doubled their lead when veteran midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri cut through the defence and forced Simon into a smart save shortly before the interval.

The crowd grumbled, unimpressed at a drenched La Romareda stadium, in a city where Spain had not played since 2003.

Asensio had them out of their seats early in the second half when he created the Spain equaliser with an electric burst forward, before playing in Jordi Alba to finish clinically.

However, three minutes later Spain defended a corner poorly again and Akanji's