Yet even though the Swiss lack world stars like France's Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema or Kylian Mbappe, Spain must be prepared for a long evening finding their way through Vladimir Petkovic's disciplined side on Friday in St Petersburg.
Luis Enrique's new task is to rebuild a Spain team that ruled international football between 2008 and 2012 by winning successive European Championships and the 2010 World Cup but have been deeply disappointing at their last three international tournaments.
The game, postponed from the start of the season, offered Atletico the chance to peel further away from nearest challengers Real Madrid but a second draw in three games only moved them on to 55 points.
The Qatar World Cup has delivered a rich feast of soccer for the past month
The UEFA Champions League resumes this week and this family time will be an ideal break to get back to business.
Liverpool beat Cardiff City side 3-1 in the FA Cup on Sunday
'It wasn't easy, but I called him last night (Sunday) and we had a difficult and tough conversation. I feel bad as he's a player who has always been at the top level and has a future with the national team.'
'I take responsibility for my errors and if they existed, it was only to make Barcelona better and stronger'.
'This is very special because of how much I suffered. My statistics show I've won five league titles in seven years.'
Some of the Shortlisted finalists for the Sony World Photography Awards.
A summary of Sunday's action in the Premier League.
The 32-year-old Indian eased into the quarter-finals of the Olympics men's +91kg boxing in his debut Olympic Games, defeating Jamaica's Ricardo Brown in his opening bout, in Tokyo, on Thursday.
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-tricks to fire champions Manchester City to a rampant 6-3 thrashing of local rivals Manchester United in the English Premier League on Sunday.
Australia's dancing substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne saved the last penalty to clinch a place at this year's World Cup in Qatar as they edged Peru 5-4 in a shootout.
Barcelona were shaken up by Eintracht Frankfurt but took a first step in their bid to reach the Europa League last four as a second-half goal by Ferran Torres salvaged a 1-1 comeback away draw in their quarter-final first leg on Thursday.
The FIFA 2022 World Cup will kick-off in Qatar on Sunday, November 20. Here is a list of the 26-man squads playing in the quadrennial global football extravaganza.
Images from Saturday's English Premier League matches.
Diogo Jota's doubled earned Juergen Klopp's side a 2-0 victory over Leicester City
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Barcelona wasted a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of LaLiga as they were shocked 1-0 at lowly Almeria on Sunday thanks to a first-half strike by El Bilal Toure.
Marseille cement second place with Montpellier win
Images from Saturday's Nations League group matches.
Mbappe becomes PSG's all-time highest goal-scorer as French champions extend lead
Uncle Pai, as he was fondly called, inculcated in Indian children a love for and interest in India's glorious past and its heroes.
The home side knew only victory would do for them to grab the final last-16 qualification spot in the group behind Manchester United, and came out for the second half in all-out-attack mode.
Atletico Madrid have signed striker Luis Suarez from Barcelona, the Spanish clubs said on Wednesday, bringing to an end his six-year stint at the Camp Nou.
Spain claimed the biggest win of the tournament with a 5-0 thrashing of Slovakia in their final European Championship Group E match on Wednesday to finish second in the group and set up a last-16 clash with Croatia in Copenhagen.
Unzue is one of the two leading candidates to succeed Luis Enrique, who announced this month he will leave at the end of this season, along with Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde.
Alvaro Morata spurned Spain's best opportunity in a dominant first half display from Luis Enrique's side on a scorching evening at Seville's La Cartuja stadium in Group E when he missed the target from inside the area after a defensive slip.
Brazil soccer great Pele died on Thursday, aged 82, after a long battle with cancer.
Costa Rica edged past 10-man New Zealand 1-0 in their intercontinental playoff
FC Barcelona's Croatia international Rakitic, who joined the La Liga champions in June 2014, believes striker Luis Suarez's spell at Liverpool made him the most feared striker in the world.
A summary of Saturday's action in the UEFA Nations League.
An early goal from Pablo Sarabia earned Spain a 1-0 win in Switzerland on Thursday, their first victory of this year's UEFA Nations League.
Liverpool survived a first-half scare to reach the Champions League final with a 3-2 win at Villarreal on Tuesday that secured a 5-2 aggregate victory after the night had threatened to turn sour for Juergen Klopp's side.
IMAGES from EPL matches played on Sunday.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has decried the fans who booed manager Luis Enrique and the players in Sunday's laboured 2-1 home win over Leganes in La Liga as having a short-term memory.
The most impressive players at the FIFA World Cup 2022 after Round One.
Liverpool moved to 76 points from 32 games with title rivals Manchester City on 74 points from one game fewer, with Pep Guardiola's side hosting Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad on Wednesday.
