Spain’s Fabián Ruiz scored twice as his 10-man side cruised to a 4-1 victory over Switzerland in a rainy Geneva, securing their first win in Nations League A Group Four on Sunday and handing the hosts their second consecutive defeat.
Euro 2024 champions Spain had struggled to a 0-0 draw against Serbia in their group opener but quickly found their rhythm at the Stade de Genève. Early goals from Joselu and Ruiz had Spain up 2-0 within 13 minutes.
A red card for Spain's Robin Le Normand after 20 minutes opened the door for Switzerland, and Zeki Amdouni pulled one back before halftime. However, as the Swiss pressed for a late equalizer, Spain capitalized with rapid counterattacks. Ruiz netted his second, and Ferran Torres added another to seal the emphatic victory.
"If there's one thing I take pride in, it's this team's heart," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. "Playing with 10 men, we managed the game masterfully. I’m very proud of how we continue to grow and improve."
Switzerland, already reeling from a 2-0 loss to Denmark in their opener, had two goals disallowed and a penalty appeal waved away, adding to their frustration. The match started with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal dazzling on the right wing, setting up Joselu's opener with a clever cross. Ruiz added a second shortly after, pouncing on a rebound to extend the lead.
Le Normand’s red card for pulling back Breel Embolo seemed to give Switzerland hope. Amdouni hit the crossbar from a free kick and later scored from close range, cutting the deficit. The Swiss pushed for an equalizer, but Spain’s defense held firm, and counterattacks proved lethal. Ruiz finished off Torres' cross for Spain’s third, and Torres himself added a fourth to wrap up the win.
Swiss defender Manuel Akanji lamented the defensive errors: "The goals we conceded were unnecessary. We lost our way in the second half and left ourselves open to counterattacks. We didn’t do enough."
Spain now sits in a strong position in the group, while Switzerland remains on the back foot after two defeats.
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