—- Spain fell to their first home loss in almost four years as Switzerland dealt a blow to their bid to qualify for next year’s Nations League finals.

Defeat saw Luis Enrique’s side replaced at the top of Group A2 by Portugal, who they will meet in their winner-takes-all final group match on Tuesday.

Eric Garcia’s own-goal, three minutes after Jordi Alba levelled for Spain in the second half, decided the game.

Manuel Akanji’s 21st-minute header had put Switzerland ahead in Zaragoza.

It is La Roja’s first home defeat in 22 matches across all competitions since losing 3-2 to England in the Nations League in October 2018.

That stood as their only loss in their past 56 competitive home matches, with defeat by Switzerland only their second defeat on home soil since 2003.

While a Spain win on Saturday accompanied by defeat for Portugal against the Czech Republic would have sealed top spot for the 2021 runners-up, Spain will now head into their final game two points behind Portugal and requiring all three points to progress.

Switzerland, who picked up their first win against Portugal last time out in June, moved off the bottom of the group after another impressive victory.

Garcia’s own-goal, forced as Breel Embolo attacked a second ball at a corner, saw them leapfrog final opponents the Czech Republic as they bid to avoid relegation.

PORTUGAL DON’T NEED CR7 GOAL TO BEAT CZECHS   

Diogo Dalot scored twice as Portugal boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Nations League finals alive with victory over the Czech Republic.

The 2019 winners took full advantage of Spain’s loss to Switzerland to move two points clear at the top of Group A2.

Portugal must avoid defeat in their final group match against Spain on Tuesday to reach next summer’s finals.

Dalot’s Manchester United team-mate Bruno Fernandes scored the second and Diogo Jota added a late fourth.

Needing to avoid defeat in Prague to give themselves a shot at qualification against Spain, Fernando Santos’ side responded emphatically to losing their previous Nations League match against Switzerland in June.

Dalot’s first-time strike from Rafael Leao’s cut-back and Fernandes’ finish from Mario Rui’s low cross put Portugal in control.

Czech forward Patrik Schick was unable to halve the deficit from the penalty spot before half-time after Cristiano Ronaldo was penalised for handball.

That allowed right-back Dalot to put the game out of reach seven minutes after the restart with a superb left-footed finish from outside the box, before Liverpool’s Jota headed in with eight minutes remaining.

Ronaldo, who assisted Jota’s goal as he headed a corner into the six-yard box, required treatment in the first half after suffering a blow to the face in a collision with Czech goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.

The Czech Republic fell to the bottom of the group and must beat Switzerland in their final match to avoid relegation to League B.

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