Captain Akanji plays every minute as Switzerland seal League A promotion in Maribor
Manuel Akanji led Switzerland through a goalless draw with Slovenia that won their Nations League B group and lifted them into League A. The Inter defender came through unscathed while the club's injury list grows before the trip to Atalanta.
Manuel Akanji wore the armband for Switzerland in Maribor and stayed on the pitch until the final whistle. The Inter defender started in the middle of the back line as the Swiss held Slovenia to a goalless draw on Friday. The point settled Group 1 of Nations League B with a round still to play.
The game was a fifth-round fixture, played on the second day of the last international break of 2026. Coach Murat Yakin called Slovenia a tough, very well-organized opponent and admitted his side had a hard time creating chances. The clean sheet and the maturity of his team’s display were what he praised.
Switzerland win back their place among Europe’s top teams
Switzerland went down from League A in the previous Nations League. This campaign in League B was about winning that place back, and the draw in Slovenia completed the job. The Swiss now hold a five-point lead over Slovenia, with Scotland on 7 and North Macedonia on 0.
The race for second place is still open. A Slovenian victory over North Macedonia would hand them second place and a berth in the League A/B play-offs, UEFA said. Any result short of a Scottish win in Switzerland would do the same. Scotland need a win in Switzerland and a Slovenian slip to overtake them.
For Akanji, promotion raises the bar. Future Nations League matches will put him up against Europe’s top teams rather than League B opposition.
A fit Akanji matters as Inter’s injury list grows
The clean bill of health is welcome news at Appiano. Inter are short of fit players, with Lautaro Martínez, Marcus Thuram, Ange-Yoan Bonny and Stanković all on the injured list. Akanji is a key starter in the back three, so getting through a full international match without trouble counts for a lot.
Losing a defender now would stretch the squad at a demanding moment. From the Atalanta game through December 22, Inter play nine matches in four competitions over 31 days.
Akanji still has one more game before he reports back to Appiano. Switzerland close their 2026 home schedule against Scotland in St. Gallen on Monday, November 16, with kickoff at 8:45 p.m. Inter then resume their season in Serie A Matchday 12, away to Atalanta in Bergamo on Sunday, November 22, at 20:45 CET.
