One of the standout games in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday will see Spain look to extend their long unbeaten run when they play host to Switzerland in Group A4.
Luis Enrique’s side currently sit top of the group after following up a hard-fought draw in Germany by thrashing Ukraine 4-0 on home soil in their last competitive fixture.
A much-changed line-up then drew 0-0 with Portugal in Lisbon on Wednesday and that has extended La Roja’s unbeaten run to 14 matches since losing to Croatia in the Nations League back in November 2018.
Switzerland, by contrast, sit bottom of the group after taking one point from their opening two games, while Vladimir Petkovic’s side were beaten by Croatia on home soil in a friendly last time out.
Spain are priced at 20/59 to win Saturday’s match and they certainly have an imperious record against Switzerland, losing just one of the 20 previous meetings between the two sides, although that defeat was famously at the 2010 World Cup – a tournament the Spanish still went on to win.
Germany to Finally Break Nations League Duck
Given the quality and rich history of the German national team, it is difficult to believe they are still yet to win a match in the Nations League, drawing four and losing two of their previous six games in the competition, including stalemates against Spain and Switzerland last month.
A much-changed team also drew against Turkey in a friendly on Wednesday, but the likes of Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Joshua Kimmich, Timo Werner and Serge Gnabry were rested for that fixture and they should all come back into the fold on Saturday.
The Germans currently sit below Ukraine in the Nations League standings, but Saturday’s hosts have been thrashed 4-0 by Spain and 7-1 by France in their last two fixtures.
Andriy Shevchenko’s squad has been decimated by withdrawals after midfielder Taras Stepanenko tested positive for coronavirus, with the rest of his Shakhtar Donetsk’s team-mates having to pull out as a precaution.
Things were already going to be tough for Ukraine before those withdrawals, as they have never beaten Germany in six previous meetings, and Die Mannschaft, on offer at 20/87, look set to prevail once again on Saturday.
Cyprus to Return to Winning Ways
It has been a difficult 2020 so far for Cyprus, as they lost their opening two Group C1 matches in the Nations League to Montenegro and Azerbaijan last month before going down to the Czech Republic in a friendly on Wednesday.
All three of those matches were on home soil, with Johan Walem’s side strangely having a better record on the road of late, winning two of their last three matches.
Luxembourg have also struggled for form in recent times, losing back-to-back home games to Montenegro and Liechtenstein, while they have not won on their own patch since beating Lithuania in March 2019.
The hosts have also lost all three of their previous meetings with Cyprus, with the visitors seemingly representing good value to win Saturday’s match at 47/20.
*All odds correct at time of writing