10 Nov Lugano - Luzern 1-4 Thun - Basel 4-2 11 Nov FCSG - YB 2-3 FCZ - Sion Xamax - GCZ 2-3 YB consolidates their lead, while Thun (?!) moves into 3rd. YB 37 Basel 23 Thun 22 FCZ 20 FCSG 20 Luzern 18 Lugano 16 Sion 14 GCZ 14 Xamax 11
Leading goalscorers: 10 - Guillaume Hoarau - YB 10 - Dejan Sorgic - Thun 8 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamax 7 - Jean-Pierre Nsame - YB 6 - Albian Ajeti - Basel 6 - Vincent Sierro - FCSG 6 - Christian Fassnacht - YB 5 - 9 players with 5 goals Leading assists: 9 - Miralem Sulejmani - YB 6 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamx 5 - 8 players with 5 assists Attendance: Basel (7) 24,881 YB (7) 23,929 FCSG (8) 12,560 FCZ (7) 10.927 Luzern (7) 9,817 Sion (6) 9,367 GCZ (7) 6,257 Thun (7) 6,157 Xamax (7) 5,600 Lugano (7) 3,185
The GCZ match is the 2nd most important thing happening in Zurich this Sunday. They will finally vote on a new stadium.
The vote passed with 53.8% saying "Yes". Grasshoppers finally get their wish and will be able to move into the New Hardturm.
24 Nov YB - Lugano 1-0 Not a great match, but YB extends their lead. Xamax - FCZ 3-3 Very exciting 2nd half. 25 Nov Luzern - Basel 1-1 Any hope that Basel had of coming back on YB is just about gone. Sion - Thun 2-1 First home win for Sion under Hakin Yakin. By the way, he was also sent into the stands by the referee. GCZ - FCSG 2-1, nice win, but the vote for the new stadium is more important. YB 40 Basel 24 Thun 22 FCZ 21 FCSG 20 Luzern 19 Sion 17 GCZ 17 Lugano 16 Xamax 12
Leading goalscorers: 11 - Dejan Sorgic - Thun 10 - Guillaume Hoarau - YB 8 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamax 7 - Jean-Pierre Nsame - YB 6 - Benjamin Kololli - FCZ 6 - Albian Ajeti - Basel 6 - Vincent Sierro - FCSG 6 - Christian Fassnacht - YB 6 - Pascal Schurph - Luzern Leading assists: 9 - Miralem Sulejmani - YB 8 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamx 5 - 10 players with 5 assists Attendance: Basel (7) 24,881 YB (8) 23,668 FCSG (8) 12,560 FCZ (7) 10.927 Luzern (8) 10,927 Sion (7) 9,200 GCZ (8) 6,300 Thun (7) 6,157 Xamax (8) 5,408 Lugano (7) 3,185
Some details about he New Hardturm 18,500 seats There will be two apartment towers with 174 apartments that will in part finance the stadium. The club will give 1.7 million CHF to the city each year until 92 years have passed. At that point, the club will return the apartment towers to the city and receive 80% of their market value from the city Estimated overall cost, 570 million CHF with 105 million CHF for the stadium. Both FCZ and GCZ will play in the new stadium, and will split the additional revenue streams, which are now going to concerts, etc. The hope is for the 2022 season.
1 Dec Sion - Luzern Possibility of leapfrogging Luzern is a big one. Yakin is contesting the match ban. Thun - FCSG - Thun could finish the weekend in 2nd or as far back as 5th. 2 Dec Basel - YB - Any Basel hope could be gone after this match. Lugano - Xamax - Fight for the bottom. Xamax could find themselves within 1 point, or as far away as 7 at the end of the day. FCZ - GCZ - Zurich Derby right after the announcement of the new stadium, could the two fan bases actually be civil to each other?
1 Dec Sion - Luzern 2-0 Sion now in 5th place. Thun - FCSG 2-0 Thun back into 2nd place with the 2-0 home victory. 2 Dec Basel - YB 1-3 Basel was up 1-0 until the 69'. They YB scored three unanswered goals to take an 18 point lead with two matches left until the break! Lugano - Xamax 2-2 Xamax had two free kick goals, and a pk saved by their keeper. The last goal for them was in the 93'. This very late draw keeps them within touching distance from Lugano and GCZ. FCZ-GCZ 2-0 The 2nd Limmat Derby, as expected goes the way of FCZ. YB 43 Thun 25 FCZ 24 Basel 24 Sion 20 FCSG 20 Luzern 19 Lugano 17 GCZ 17 Xamax 13 What a crazy season so far. 2nd place to 9th place are only 8 points apart.
Leading goalscorers: 11 - Dejan Sorgic - Thun 10 - Guillaume Hoarau - YB 10 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamax 7 - Jean-Pierre Nsame - YB 7 - Carlinhon Junion - Lugano 7 - Albian Ajeti - Basel 7 - Christian Fassnacht - YB 6 - 6 players with 6 goals Leading assists: 10 - Miralem Sulejmani - YB 8 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamx 6 - Bastien Toma - Thun 5 - 9 players with 5 assists Attendance: Basel (8) 25,457 YB (8) 23,668 FCSG (8) 12,560 FCZ (8) 11,324 Luzern (8) 10,927 Sion (8) 9,025 GCZ (8) 6,300 Thun (8) 5,953 Xamax (8) 5,408 Lugano (8) 3,095
8 Dec YB - Thun - I do not know if the Bernese Derby ever had #1 vs #2. FCSG - Xamax - Can Xamax stay in touch with the rest of the lower part of the table. They have been playing better as of late. 9 Dec Basel - FCZ - I remember when this was a battle for the top of the league, not the 3rd of 4th place teams. Lugano - Sion - Sion generally plays well against Lugano, and they are starting to play better. GCZ - Luzern Has the new stadium euphoria evaportated for GCZ?
8 Dec YB - Thun 3-2 An 84' own goal and a 90 goal by Mr YB, Guillaume Hoarau seal the win for YB. FCSG - Xamax - Despite being a man down from 51' on, Xamax pulls a goal back and loses again, in close fashion. The challenge will be taking these 1 goal games and getting something out of them. That will be the difference between them and GCZ. 9 Dec Basel - FCZ 2-0 Lugano - Sion 2-2 GCZ - Lugano 2-3 YB 46 Basel 27 Thun 25 FCZ 24 FCSG 23 Luzern 22 Sion 21 Lugano 18 GCZ 17 Xamax 13 The top is settled, the only fear for YB is that they sell some players over the break and lose incentive. I wonder how much the players get as a bonus for each win? Xamax and GCZ are only 1 goal different. Xamax (-13), GCZ (-12). I expect this to go to the end. Now spots 2-7 are seperated by only 6 points.
Leading goalscorers: 11 - Dejan Sorgic - Thun 11 - Guillaume Hoarau - YB 10 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamax 8 - Albian Ajeti - Basel 8 - Vinent Sierro - FCSG 7 - 6 players with 7 goals Leading assists: 11 - Miralem Sulejmani - YB 9 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamx 6 - Bastien Toma - Thun 6 - Alexander Gerndt - Lugano 5 - 10 players with 5 assists Attendance: Basel (9) 25,602 - Still impressed with the turnout despite the down season. YB (9) 24,073 FCSG (9) 12,445 FCZ (8) 11,324 Luzern (8) 10,927 Sion (8) 9,025 GCZ (9) 6,133 Thun (8) 5,953 Xamax (8) 5,408 Lugano (9) 3,181
We saw this a few years ago when Basel were on top of the league by 18 points at Winterpause, but they also went out in the Champions League Group Stages. Since they had nothing left to play for except the league, they capitulated and went on a serious winless streak. Fortunately for them, YB didn't pick up as many points, so it was still comfortable for them, but they only won the league with about 3 matches to spare. This prompted a lot of questions about whether there should be a playoff of some kind in the league since Basel were running away with it, Lugano were running away with the Challenge League, and there was essentially nothing to play for in Switzerland outside of the Swiss Cup. Could the same thing happen to YB? Probably, if they're not focused. I think they want to smash records, though, and they're halfway to 90 points in the league, which would be absolutely unthinkable.
I can not imagine 90 points in a season, that would be amazing. That would be only dropping 18 points all season!!!
Last round before the winter break 15 Dec Sion - Basel Thun - GCZ 16 Dec Luzern - FCSG FCZ - Lugano Xamax - YB Although Xamax would love points, if YB is at all motivated they should win. That would give them 49 points in 18 matches! Thun should win at home over GCZ so the bottom and the top most likely will remain unchanged. Sion and Basel is an interesting one, the Luzern/FCSG match should be a good one to watch.
15 Dec Sion - Basel 1-2 This continues a streak where Sion has not beaten Basel in a league match since 2011! They had a real chance in this one. Thun - GCZ 1-0 Thun finished the fall season in 3rd. Who had that one? GCZ looks destined to one of the two bottom spots. 16 Dec Luzern - FCSG 2-1 Aided by an early own goal, Luzern passes FCSG for 5th place. FCZ - Lugano 0-0 Neither side could threaten much in a rather dull 0-0 draw. Xamax - YB 1-1 As anticipated, YB with an easy victory over Xamax. YB 49 Basel 30 Thun 28 FCZ 25 Luzern 25 FCSG 23 Sion 21 Lugano 19 GCZ 17 Xamax 13
Leading goalscorers: 13 - Guillaume Hoarau - YB 11 - Dejan Sorgic - Thun 10 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamax 8 - Albian Ajeti - Basel 8 - Vinent Sierro - FCSG 8 - Christian Fassnacht - YB 7 - 5 players with 7 goals Leading assists: 11 - Miralem Sulejmani - YB 9 - Raphael Nuzzolo - Xamx 6 - Bastien Toma - Thun 6 - Alexander Gerndt - Lugano 6 - Albian Ajeti - Basel 5 - 9 players with 5 assists Attendance: Basel (9) 25,602 YB (9) 24,073 FCSG (9) 12,445 FCZ (9) 10,029 Luzern (9) 9,770 Sion (9) 9,156 GCZ (9) 6,133 Thun (9) 5,813 Xamax (9) 5,635 Lugano (9) 3,181
GCZ is in danger of going into bankruptcy after 1/3 of their ownership group pulled out. The club was owned by a triumvirate who held 90 percent of the club. They each split it 30-30-30. Now, it's 45-45, and there are questions if a new investor can be found who is willing to join in because that new investor would need to pay in extra to control GCZ's currently out of control debt. The owners promised 9 million CHF over the next three years, but apparently have already gone through that in just a half a season. There are concerns about meeting payroll, but it is believed that the club can currently only pay salaries under its current budget, but can't do anything else in the day-to-day running of the club. One of the owners is worth close to 1 billion CHF, but his partnership with the other two people depended on an equal share of investment and debt accrual. The other remaining owner doesn't have the kind of money needed to continue the partnership. If he walks away, it's believed the third partner (the near-billionaire) wouldn't want to take this all on himself, and would consider also walking away leaving GCZ in the trash heap. According to the Neue Zurcher Zeitung, the club has no actual people with financial competence in running a football club, and the club's board only has two members. If GCZ can't find their way out of this financially, the most storied club in Swiss football could be banished back to the amateur leagues before they even get into their new stadium.
This is truly terrible news. I have always had a soft spot for this club. When I was a kid to me they were the team with the coolest name out there! Grasshopper! Child hood memories. I hope things work out for them.
Xamax might be able to stay up as a result of this. What terrible news for the club, their fans, and the city.
The spring starts up this weekend 2 Feb YB - Xamax Lugano - Thun 3 Feb Luzern - Sion FCSG - FCZ GCZ - Basel
2 Feb YB - Xamas 2-0 Lugano - Thun PPD 3 Feb Luzern - Sion PPD FCSG - FCZ PPD GCZ - Basel 0-4 YB 52 Basel 33 Thun 28* FCZ 25* Luzern 25* FCSG 23* Sion 21* Lugano 19* GCZ 17 Xamax 13 6 Feb FCSG - FCZ - make-up date is already set.