Spain hold off Switzerland effort

Spain are setting the early pace in UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round Group 2 after victory against hosts Switzerland.

Juanmi's early opener was added to by substitute Isco and although André Goncalves pulled one back, the four-time champions held on. They will aim to keep up winning form on Thursday against Montenegro, who lost 1-0 to Switzerland's next opponents England.

Seven of the Switzerland starting lineup and two of the substitutes were in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning squad but this Spain generation finished a free-scoring third in Nigeria and they took the lead on three minutes through Juanmi. Seconds later Simon Grether came close for Switzerland from distance and at the other end Marc Muniesa slalomed through the Swiss defence but shot just off target.

Switzerland goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist was tested ten minutes into the second half when after Albert Blázquez's cross-field pass found Juanmi, but when that player gave the ball to Isco in the 74th-minute, the scorer of the goal that gave Spain 2009 World Cup bronze tapped into an empty net having himself but the move in his own half. Three minutes later Goncalves reduced arrears but Spain secured the points.