Promotion competition starts again: Hungry pursuers and U21 teams threaten relegation

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FC Paradiso’s narrow 1-0 win in the top match just before the winter break brought Étoile Carouge FC’s lead back to six points. However, the team from Geneva played one match less than their rivals from Ticino. It is precisely with this additional match that Étoile Carouge opens the second half of the season away from FC Basel U21 on Wednesday evening.

Étoile Carouge as the big favorite for promotion

Last year, the fashion reform in the Super League led to a special promotion race in the third highest division. A spot was created for two teams in the Challenge League, and a third team was also allowed to participate in the Barrage. However, the tension on the field was constantly accompanied by questions about licensing. Finally, FC Rapperswil-Jona took part in the jump-off competitions as fifth in the rankings. A similar scenario is not expected this year. As promotion favorite, Étoile Carouge received the license for the Challenge League last year and it can be assumed that this will be the case again. The people of Geneva are definitely looking forward to the second professional competition in Switzerland. In the winter, Adrian Ursea’s team was strengthened again, including goalkeeper Leandro Zbinden from BSC Young Boys and loan player Noah Henchoz from Servette FC in defense.

The first pursuer is the promoted team FC Paradiso, who were able to seamlessly continue their strong season last season in the 1st League Classic. In addition to intensive training, Paradiso has also brought in one or two reinforcements in recent weeks. The offensive in particular was upgraded, with attacking midfielder Saliou Thioune coming over from Yverdon Sport in the Super League. However, there will only be one long-distance match between Étoile Carouge and Paradiso in the spring rounds. The two direct encounters were both played before the winter break.

Directly behind Paradiso, seven teams are within seven points. Anyone who starts running after the winter break can suddenly find themselves in the middle of the promotion race. Looking at their form before the almost three-month break from the competition, SC Kriens and FC Rapperswil-Jona can be expected to do so. Rosenstadt’s team recorded six wins in a row in the fall and remained without conceding a goal in three consecutive games. Kriens, on the other hand, is counting on a continued series of seven championship games without defeat.

But if the table leader only drops eleven points again, it will be extremely difficult to catch Étoile Carouge. However, the pursuers will do everything they can to keep the promotion race open for as long as possible.

The U21 teams are in acute danger of relegation

The battle to stay in the league in the second half of the season will be just as interesting as the race for one promotion spot. All seven youth teams of the Super League clubs are in the bottom half of the table. The youngsters of FC Basel and those of Servette FC are currently in the relegation zone. FCB could climb over the line in the additional match, but a victory over the leader would still be surprising.

Experience shows that the junior teams perform increasingly better in the second half of the season. However, given the starting position, it is not expected that all seven teams will be able to remain in the Promotion League. With FC Bulle and FC Bavois, there are also two first teams in the bottom half of the rankings. The club from the canton of Friborg experienced a major upheaval during the winter break. How quickly the changed team led by Cédric Strahm comes together will determine whether Bulle will immediately slip into the relegation battle.

A major cellar duel will follow immediately at the start of the second half of the season. On Sunday, February 18, the Servette FC U21 team will welcome their age colleagues from FC St. Gallen. Especially for the Genevans: losing is forbidden! Otherwise the savings bank would be seven points away. There are still 16 rounds to go to achieve a major upheaval in the relegation zone and perhaps intervene as a spoilsport in the promotion race at the same time.

Whether it’s a promotion race or a relegation battle, you have the chance not to miss any of these crucial minutes. Wherever, always live 90 minutes! All Promotion League matches in the spring of 2024 will be offered as a livestream on RED+. In collaboration with Blick, the highlight of each match day will also be shown as “Match of the Week” in a free livestream on Blick.ch. From February 14, the ball will roll again on the football fields of the Promotion League and therefore also on RED+ and Blick.ch.

Source : Blick