NATIONAL LEAGUE: SPAIN WINS; PORTUGAL TOPS THE GROUP

On Thursday, Spain triumphed 1-0 in Switzerland thanks to a goal from Pablo Sarabia early in the game, their first win in the UEFA Nations League this season.

Last year’s finalists dominated the game but only managed to score once, when Sarabia struck from close range after Marcos Llorente’s low cross in the 12th minute.

After a mistake by the Swiss defenders, the Atletico Madrid winger found Sarabia ghosting in between two opponents inside the six-yard box, and he scored with a first-time strike.

Spain has five points from three Group A2 games, two more than leaders Portugal and two more than third-placed Czech Republic.

Switzerland has lost three straight games since qualifying for this year’s World Cup and is winless in their last five.

Spain will face the Czech Republic in Malaga on Sunday, while Switzerland will face Portugal in Geneva.

Luis Enrique made eight changes to his starting lineup from the team that drew 2-2 with the Czech Republic last time out.

Llorente and Sarabia were the main focus of Spain’s attack, because to their speed and pinpoint passes from teenager Gavi behind the Swiss line.

Serbia beat Sweden 1-0 in their Nations League Group B4 encounter on Thursday, thanks to a first-half goal from Luka Jovic, while the Swedes lost their second home match in a row owing to another poor effort.

Just before halftime, Strahinja Pavlovic headed a corner back across goal to Jovic, who reacted quickly to hook the ball past Robin Olsen to give the visitors the lead.

The Swedish offense, which was missing key first-team defenders due to injury, appeared to be out of ideas once more as they failed to register a single shot on goal, and the Serbs cruised to an easy win.