Nations League: Portugal is defeated by Switzerland, Spain beats the Czech Republic

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Haris Seferovic (centre) scored against Portugal to make it 1-0

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MICHAEL BUHOLZER / EPO

Without their superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese national football team has lost the lead in the Nations League to neighboring Spain.

The team coached by Fernando Santos lost 1-0 (0-1) to Switzerland, who were previously pointless at the bottom, on Sunday after an early deficit, while the new leaders in Group A2 celebrated a 2-0 (1-0) home win against the Czech Republic.

Norway defended its lead in Group B4 with a 3-2 (1-0) win over Scandinavian rivals Sweden.

The team of double goalscorer Erling Haaland is three points ahead of Serbia, which despite a comfortable half-time lead did not go beyond a 2-2 (2-0) win in Slovenia.

Ronaldo, Joao Moutinho and BVB professional Raphael Guerreiro had not even traveled to Geneva with the Portuguese.

The trio were given a breather – and without top international goalscorer Ronaldo there was an early setback.

Former Eintracht professional Haris Seferovic (Benfica Lisbon) scored the winning goal after just 57 seconds;

the referee did not award a hand penalty for the Confederates because of a previous foul (14th).

The Portuguese André Silva was then offside in the supposed equalizer (18th).

Seferovic missed a good counterattack chance for coach Murat Yakin's team to make it 2-0 (62').

With the stormy attacks of the Portuguese after the break, the equalizer was in the air: the Swiss keeper Jonas Omlin made several brilliant saves and held on to the extremely lucky home win.

Switzerland had previously lost three times, the first leg in Portugal even 4-0.

Spain held off the Czech Republic's impressive pressing in Malaga.

After initial difficulties, Carlos Soler (24th) scored for the half-time lead, which the 2010 world champion earned more and more as the season progressed.

Joker Pablo Sarabia (75th) made everything clear shortly after being substituted on.

ara/sid/dpa