Match ends, Spain 1, Switzerland 1.
World Cup 2018
- From the section Football
Spain were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland in the first of their two warm-up games for the World Cup.
The Spanish, who thrashed Argentina 6-1 in March, had threatened to win at a canter when Alvaro Odriozola's 20-yard volley put them ahead in Villarreal.
But the Swiss, who were second best for long periods, capitalised on a mistake by Spain keeper David de Gea, Ricardo Rodriguez tapping in an equaliser.
Spain play Tunisia on Saturday, while Switzerland take on Japan on Friday.
Despite fielding an experimental line-up, without any of the Real Madrid players that won the Champions League final just over a week ago, Spain remain unbeaten under head coach Julen Lopetegui.
The 51-year-old who replaced Vicente del Bosque in 2016, has won 13 and drawn six of his 19 games in charge, to retain the longest current unbeaten streak in international football.
Experience counts
Eight years ago Switzerland sprung a surprise by defeating Spain in Durban during the opening game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
And this match followed a similar script. Spain dominated possession and chances but ultimately were denied the victory that their performance merited.
Fielding three of the survivors of the squad that recovered to win their next six matches to become World Champions for the first time, the Spanish rapidly took control.
Two of that trio, Andres Iniesta and David Silva orchestrated the play and Thiago Alcantara and Silva both spurned chances to score before Odriozola's goal.
While the substitutions of Silva and Iniesta - around the hour mark - loosened Spain's grip on the game, they were close to mustering a late winning goal with Nacho Fernandez hitting the post and heading wide.
The Spanish now tackle England's Group G opponents Tunisia on 9 June in Krasnodar, their base for the finals this summer.
Lopetegui's side begin the tournament against Portugal on 15 June - the first time the nations will have met since the Euro 2012 semi-final, which Spain won on penalties.
The 2010 winners then play Iran on 20 June before completing their Group B schedule against Morocco on 25 June.
Switzerland remain rank outsiders
For most of this encounter it was all about containment for Switzerland who rarely had the ball for long enough to trouble Spain.
However, they remain obdurate opponents with goalkeeper Yann Sommer's fine display typifying a defiant defensive effort.
Switzerland now face fellow finalists Japan in Lugano on Friday in readiness for their opening Group E fixture against Brazil on 17 June.
The Swiss, sixth in Fifa's world rankings but 100/1 outsiders to lift the World Cup, will then take on Serbia on 22 June and Costa Rica on 27 June.
Line-ups
Spain
- 1De Gea
- 12OdriozolaSubstituted forNachoat 70'minutes
- 3Piqué
- 14Azpilicueta
- 18AlbaSubstituted forMonrealat 78'minutes
- 8Koke
- 10Thiago Alcántara
- 17Iago AspasSubstituted forVázquezat 45'minutes
- 6IniestaSubstituted forSaúlat 55'minutesBooked at 57mins
- 21SilvaSubstituted forAsensioat 60'minutes
- 19Diego CostaSubstituted forRodrigoat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Nacho
- 7Saúl
- 9Rodrigo
- 11Vázquez
- 13Arrizabalaga
- 16Monreal
- 20Asensio
- 23Reina
- 24Vallejo
- 25Rodri
- 26Álvarez
Switzerland
- 1Sommer
- 2LichtsteinerSubstituted forLangat 63'minutes
- 22SchärSubstituted forDjourouat 45'minutes
- 5Akanji
- 13RodríguezSubstituted forMoubandjeat 78'minutes
- 11BehramiSubstituted forFernandesat 63'minutes
- 17Zakaria
- 23Shaqiri
- 15DzemailiSubstituted forEmboloat 45'minutes
- 14ZuberBooked at 89mins
- 9SeferovicSubstituted forDrmicat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Moubandje
- 4Elvedi
- 6Lang
- 7Embolo
- 8Freuler
- 12Mvogo
- 16Fernandes
- 18Gavranovic
- 19Drmic
- 20Djourou
- 21Bürki
- 26Fernandes
- Referee:
- Istvan Kovacs
- Attendance:
- 18,350
Match Stats
Home TeamSpainAway TeamSwitzerland
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home7
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away11
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Spain 1, Switzerland 1.
Offside, Switzerland. Josip Drmic tries a through ball, but François Moubandje is caught offside.
Nacho Monreal (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Breel Embolo (Switzerland).
Attempt missed. Nacho (Spain) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Koke with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Johan Djourou.
Attempt blocked. Rodrigo Moreno (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Nacho (Spain) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez following a set piece situation.
Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from long range on the right is blocked.
Booking
Steven Zuber (Switzerland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Koke (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Steven Zuber (Switzerland).
Thiago Alcántara (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josip Drmic (Switzerland).
Attempt missed. Thiago Alcántara (Spain) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Nacho Monreal with a cross.
Attempt saved. Rodrigo Moreno (Spain) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez.
Substitution
Substitution, Switzerland. François Moubandje replaces Ricardo Rodríguez.
Substitution
Substitution, Spain. Nacho Monreal replaces Jordi Alba.
Jordi Alba (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Breel Embolo (Switzerland).
Offside, Switzerland. Manuel Akanji tries a through ball, but Josip Drmic is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Spain. Nacho replaces Álvaro Odriozola.
Jordi Alba (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Breel Embolo (Switzerland).
Offside, Spain. Lucas Vázquez tries a through ball, but Álvaro Odriozola is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Switzerland. Gelson Fernandes replaces Valon Behrami.
Substitution
Substitution, Switzerland. Michael Lang replaces Stephan Lichtsteiner.
Goal!
Goal! Spain 1, Switzerland 1. Ricardo Rodríguez (Switzerland) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner.
Attempt saved. Stephan Lichtsteiner (Switzerland) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Foul by Gerard Piqué (Spain).
Steven Zuber (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Spain. Marco Asensio replaces David Silva.
Substitution
Substitution, Spain. Rodrigo Moreno replaces Diego Costa.
Attempt missed. Jordi Alba (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Booking
Saúl Ñíguez (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Saúl Ñíguez (Spain).
Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Breel Embolo.
Saúl Ñíguez (Spain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
