So draws all around around, but there certainly was drama in some of them. 22 Feb Thun - Luzern 1-1 A continued renaissance for Thun. Both goals in the first 10'. FCZ - Xamax 1-1 Good result for Xamax, both goals before 26'. 23 Feb Basel - Servette 2-2 Basel up 2-0 after 19', Servette scores two after 75'. Better point for Servette than Basel. Lugano - Sion 0 - 0 For Sion fans, the draw manages to stem the terrible run of form. FCSG - YB 3-3 Crazy end to this match with YB up 1-2 at the half, then FCSG scored in the 73rd and 90th to seem to win. Late in to stoppage time, Horaru takes a PK, given due to VAR, it is saved, only to have FCSG defenders enter the penalty area early. Hoarau takes the 2nd one and scores. Ending starts around 12:00 min into the clip. FCSG 45 YB 45 Basel 40 Servette 37 FCZ 32 Luzern 31 Lugano 26 Sion 23 Xamax 19 Thun 19
All matches have now been postponed through the end of the March international break (if there even is one). The earliest the league would return is April 4. There is expected to be another meeting on March 15 to discuss if playing beyond April 4 will be possible.
Looks like one possibility for next season is 12 teams until Christmas, then the bottom 2 drop down to the BCL. From what I understand, GCZ was the one who proposed this.
Christian Constantin - the owner of Sion - cut all of the players who didn't take the unemployment offer because they were trying to figure things out with lawyers, so he dissolved their contracts. He's a madman. Sion isn't coming back up for a while.
Here is an article about the event. Constantin really is one of the most interesting men in Switzerland.
Constantin is still making the news. I guess any sporting news will be covered in these times, but this is just making Switzerland, and the RSL look really bad.
So the leagues will start back in a few weeks. The plan pushed by Sion, Xamax and LS or stopping the season and having 12 in the RSL next season and 8 in the BCL did not pass.
I think I read that they're starting on June 20, but the fixtures haven't been set. Can't wait to see what Sion looks like since they fired almost all of their high earners.
And Xamax signed two of them ... I love it! If Sion goes down, and guesses on how long they stay in BCL? I hope not too long for the sake of Swiss soccer, but I would love CC to eat some humble pie for once.
Sion has a new coach - Paolo Tramezzani SLO has announced that Meho Kodro, the former Servetten manger is their new manager. The schedule is out - 130 matches in 44 days, 2 August in the final date.
FC Sion is still banning reporters from the local newspaper from their stadium. FC Thun's keeper Guillauume Faivre will leave after this season is over. Servette could lose their keeper Jérémy Frick to Basel is David von Ballmoos leaves. If Frick goes, Anthony Racioppi, the current #3 at Lyon from Geneve could be on the way to Servette. Also, Jonas Omlin might be on his way to Schalke.
Contracts all over are screwed up, especially in lower divisions. They're expected to run out at the end of June, and some players in the Challenge League have signed on elsewhere starting on 1 July. A great majority of Challenge League players are only on one-year deals, especially with clubs that are threatened by relegation. The best example is current Kriens forward Nico Siegrist who signed with Cham in the Promotion League. I know that leagues have said that they will extend contracts beyond 30 June, but the players are trying to put up a fight saying that they should not jeopardize future earnings when they signed a contract that ends on a specific date. Should be interesting to see where this ends up.
After four months away and much anguish and despair, a light is shown! The Swiss Super League returns! Freitag, 19 Juni 20.30 CET (2:30 pm EDT) Young Boys vs FC Zurich Samstag, 20 Juni 18.15 CET (12:15 pm EDT) Xamax vs Thun 20.30 CET (2:30 pm EDT) Sion vs St. Gallen Sonntag, 21 Juni 16.00 CET (10:00 am EDT) Luzern vs Basel - SRG SSR Servette vs Lugano
19 Jun YB - FCZ 3-2 Nsame scores all three for YB and they come back and defeat FCZ in a very important match. 20 Jun Xamax - Thun 2-1 A late goal by Nuzzolo puts Xamax 3 points ahead of Thun in the race to avoid automatic relegation. Sion - FCSG 1-2 FCSG looked in control for the majority of the match. Sion got a PK scored by Kasami in the 90' to make the score look better. 21 Jun Luzern - Basel 2-1 Basel now finds themselves 8 points behind YB and FCSG. Even with the rumored "loan" of Oberlin for the remainder of the season, I do not see them catching the top 2. Servette - Lugano 1-1 Lugano went up early, then Servette came back. Lugano went down to 10 men, but Servette could not find the winner, and missed a chance to draw level with Basel on points. FCSG 48 YB 48 Basel 40 Servette 38 Luzern 34 FCZ 32 Lugano 27 Sion 23 Xamax 22 Thun 19
Next matches are almost here! 23 Jun Thun - YB 24 Jun Xamax - Basel Lugano - Luzern Sion - Servette 25 Jun FCSG - FCZ
OK, so I missed a few matches, they are coming fast and furious. Here is where we sit right now. FCSG 54 YB 52 Basel 46 Servette 41 Luzern 38 FCZ 38 Lugano 33 Thun 25 Sion 24 Xamax 22 Matches this weekend: 4 July Basel - Xamax FCZ - Servette 5 July YB - Lugano Luzern - Thun FCSG - Sion Also, the 4th place team looks like they will get the Europa League spot, as the Swiss Cup final is after the date needed for the teams to be known.
So a big matchday today and tomorrow. 22 July Thun - Servette Lugano - FCZ Luzern - Sion FCSG - Basel 23 July Xamax - YB Standings YB 64 FCSG 62 Basel 56 Servette 46 Luzern 42 FCZ 42 * Lugnao 37 Thun 32 Sion 29 Xamax 27 So since the break here are the points earned: YB 19 FCG 17 Basel 16 Thun 13 Lugano 11 Luzern 11 Zurich 10 Servette 9 (6 draws) Xamax 8 Sion 6
I hope it comes down to YB/SG on the final day for the title. Would be sweet justice if SG wins the title after the way they were screwed in the meeting between the two teams before the pandemic.
25 July Sion - Thun - Huge match Thun could essentially move out of danger with a win here. FCZ - FCSG - If FCSG does not win, it is almost game over for them in their title chase. 26 July YB - Luzern - A win here could put YB 8 points ahead. Basel - Lugano - Basel could still end up in 2nd, and Lugano could still end up in 4th. Servette - Xamax Servette can relegate Xamax with a win, and take a step to consolidate 4th place.
25 July Sion - Thun 1-1 FCZ - FCSG 1-3 26 July YB - Luzern 1-0 Basel - Lugano 4-4 Servette - Xamax 4-1 So Servette all but cemented their 4th place spot, and Xamax is almost guaranteed to be relegated. YB is 5 points ahead with 6 points still on the table. While FCSG is 5 points ahead of Basel. So the top 4 are pretty much set. There still is some movement at the bottom. Thun has a 3 point lead on Sion who has a 6 point lead on Xamax. 28 July FCZ - Sion - Sion has a chance to get back into a tie on points with Thun, and ahead of Thun on Goal Differential.