Another day, another crazy week in Swiss football.
The midweek fixtures in the Swiss Super League saw some unbelievable results, with many impossible to predict. Bottom club Thun shocked Young Boys with a 1-0 win in the Bernese derby, league leaders St. Gallen were smashed 4-0 at home by Zürich, and the Derby du Rhône ended all square at the Stade Tourbillon.
Just days later, it is time for another round of massive fixtures as the two opposite ends of the table go head to head. First-place St. Gallen will be looking for redemption when they host last-place Thun, while second from top side YB welcome second from bottom strugglers Neuchâtel Xamax.
With a huge weekend in store, this is your full lowdown of round 26 of the Swiss Super League.
FC Luzern vs Servette FC
Saturday 27th June, 18:15 CEST
Swissporarena, Luzern
Both sides are looking to return to winning ways, after failing to win in round 25. After showing their worth against Basel, Luzern followed up that performance with a depleted 2-0 loss to Lugano. It brought an abrupt end to their seven-game unbeaten run, leaving them sixth.
Servette could not seal a derby win against Sion, as they drew 1-1 after taken the lead through Timothé Cognat. The result means Alain Geiger’s side have one win in their last five games, a run of form which must be turned around if they want to push for Europe.
Just five points separate the two teams in the middle of the table, though the hosts are in better form despite losing last time out. Luzern have pulled off some big wins at the Swissporarena this season, and should seal their seventh home win of the season in the opening fixture of round 26.
Prediction: FC Luzern 2-0 Servette FC
BSC Young Boys vs Neuchâtel Xamax
Saturday 27th June, 20:30 CEST
Stade de Suisse, Bern
Young Boys and Neuchâtel Xamax will face off in the capital on Saturday night, both needing a reaction to defeat. YB’s concerning performances took a turn for the worse, losing to relegation battlers Thun in a disappointing derby display. As they face another side at the bottom in Bern, there are no excuses to be made- YB have to win.
Meanwhile, Xamax were unable to make it two home wins on the bounce, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Basel. It means the gap at the bottom remains in the balance of goal difference, and with just one win in their last seven away games, it does not look pretty for Saturday.
Young Boys will be favourites as ever, though underwhelming performances and inconsistent form means it is much harder to call. Xamax are capable of getting something from the game, but YB will be hungry to make it back to back wins at the Stade de Suisse, as they continue their title pursuit.
Prediction: BSC Young Boys 2-1 Neuchâtel Xamax
FC Basel vs FC Sion
Sunday 28th June, 16:00 CEST
St. Jakob-Park, Basel
Not many teams have a worse, more inconsistent run of form than FC Basel and FC Sion. They have a solitary combined win in their last nine league games, which came midweek for Basel as Arthur Cabral came to the rescue once again to earn a 2-1 win at Neuchâtel Xamax.
Despite their recent misfortunes on and off the pitch, Sion managed to draw against rivals Servette at the Tourbillion, with Ermir Lenjani’s strike earning a 1-1 stalemate. Basel have won the last six meetings in a row, with Sion’s last win over the RotBlau coming in May 2011.
Basel are back to winning ways and should continue that streak, though their inconsistent form is cause for concern for Marcel Koller. However, FCB’s record against Sion is so superior and dominant, and they should return to St. Jakob-Park by getting a commanding win.
Prediction: FC Basel 3-0 FC Sion
St. Gallen vs FC Thun
Sunday 28th June, 16:00 CEST
Kybunpark, St. Gallen
First place meets last place at the Kybunpark, with St. Gallen the ones who need to recover from a damning defeat. Die Espen were well and truly humbled on home soil, when FC Zürich thrashed them 4-0 in a truly humiliating defeat for Peter Zeidler’s league leaders.
While St. Gallen were beaten, they remained Tabellenführer thanks to the exploits of FC Thun. Sitting rock bottom and staring relegation in the face, Thun snatched a 1-0 win in the Bernese derby against Young Boys, with Ridge Munsy scoring for the fifth straight game to earn all three points.
St. Gallen need to redeem themselves to keep up their title challenge, though the mood among the FCSG camp will be influenced by YB’s result the previous evening. Thun have shown that they can still compete with Switzerland’s finest, but the added firepower from defeat should do the job for the hosts.
Prediction: St. Gallen 3-1 FC Thun
FC Zürich vs FC Lugano
Sunday 28th June, 16:00 CEST
Letzigrund, Zürich
The shock result of round 25 came courtesy of FC Zürich, who will hope for a performance of the same calibre when they host FC Lugano. Zürich blew St. Gallen away with their outstanding 4-0 victory, as goals from Aiyegun Tosin, Benjamin Kololli and an own goal handed the three points to FCZ.
Lugano also got themselves all three points midweek, their first win in three games. Late strikes from Ákos Kecskés and Sandri Lovric gave the Ticino club a 2-0 win over Luzern, moving them eight points from the relegation spots – though they seem all but safe anyway.
The visitors have not lost to Zürich in their last five meetings, with two of them ending in goalless draws. This game is likely to be low scoring though FCZ could throw in a surprise, as it is the hosts who should earn another win and their first back to back victories since November.
Prediction: FC Zürich 2-0 FC Lugano
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