Switzerland beat North Macedonia 3:0 in their opening League B match of the UEFA Nations League on Friday. The visitors took control early and never looked back, with goals from Remo Freuler and Zeki Amdouni securing the result. We backed Switzerland for victory before kick-off, and the result confirmed that call.
Freuler opened the scoring in the twenty-second minute. North Macedonia had just settled into their rhythm when the Swiss midfielder found space and finished cleanly. To be fair, the home side had possession but lacked penetration, and Switzerland were waiting for their moment.
Amdouni doubled the lead shortly after half-time, making it 2:0 in the forty-first minute. The yellow cards started flying around that period too — Bojan Ilievski and Enis Bardhi both went to the referee. By then the match was effectively over, with North Macedonia forced to chase shadows.
Amdouni completed his brace in the seventy-fourth minute. Switzerland had been patient, moving the ball between the lines and picking apart the home defence. The visitors created two big chances throughout the game, and they converted both when it mattered.
Coaches made changes around the hour mark. North Macedonia brought on Gjoko Zajkov and Bojan Miovski in an attempt to shift the momentum, while Switzerland introduced Ricardo Rodríguez and Johan Manzambi to manage the game. The substitutions didn't change the outcome, but the visitors kept their heads throughout.
The statistics tell the story. Switzerland dominated possession with 58 per cent and created 136 attacks compared to North Macedonia's 72. The visitors registered 11 shots on target against just one for the hosts, while expected goals stood at 2.14 to 0.05. Many shots with three goals means chances were taken when they came.
Both sides sit in the table with zero games played and zero points before this match. Switzerland move into third place after the win, while North Macedonia remain fourth. The hosts have not won since their last campaign, and this result extends that difficult run.
