League A Group 4 provides an attractive fixture between Germany and Spain who are both expected to be vying for top spot in a group that also includes Switzerland and Ukraine.
However, Germany struggled in the inaugural UEFA Nations League as they finished bottom of League 1 in the previous competition with just two points to their name and finished five points adrift of both Netherlands and France.
Overall, it was a disappointing start to their Nations League campaign as the Germans picked up points in draws with France and Netherlands in 0-0 and 2-2 draws respectively, while suffering losses on the road at Netherlands 3-0 and France 2-1.
Endlich wieder zusammen. 🙌🏼🇩🇪#DieMannschaft pic.twitter.com/SMyG7nIN7o— Die Mannschaft (@DFB_Team) August 31, 2020
Endlich wieder zusammen. 🙌🏼🇩🇪#DieMannschaft pic.twitter.com/SMyG7nIN7o
Germany’s last taste of international action was back in November of last year where they bounced back with comprehensive Euro Championship qualifying wins against Belarus 4-0 and a crushing 6-1 win over Northern Ireland, both of which were on home turf.
Subsequent international friendlies against Spain, Italy and Switzerland were cancelled due to the lockdown, while previous meetings against Spain have yielded few goals with each of the previous four clashes resulting in under 2.5 goals.
Visitors, Spain, only fared marginally better in their previous Nations League campaign as they finished runners-up to Group 4 winners, England, but at least they were spared the wooden spoon as bottom nation, Croatia had that dubious honour.
Spain’s inaugural Nations League campaign started in promising fashion as they registered early back-to-back wins in the group fixtures with victories over England (2-1 away) and a 6-0 rout of Croatia at home.
However, Spain’s early joy proved to be short-lived as they then slumped to back-to-back defeats, losing 3-2 at home to England before losing by the same margin away from home in Zagreb at Croatia, resulting in England winning the group and progressing through to the knockout rounds.
It was better news though for Spain in the European Championship qualifying stage as they topped Group F by a five-point margin ahead of runners-up, Sweden, winning eight of their 10 group matches and drawing the other two as Luis Enrique’s side remained unbeaten throughout the qualifying phase.
Results away from home have also been impressive for the Spaniards as they’ve lost just once in their last 21 matches on their travels but they have been held to 1-1 draws in each of their last two away matches, at Norway and Sweden respectively.
This therefore looks like being a tightly-fought affair where a draw wouldn’t be the end of the world for either side.