Thank the Scots: things are burning bright in the Super League

March has never been so warm! Although only 26 of the 38 rounds have been completed, there is already great tension in the Super League. Swiss football fans have this to thank for the newly introduced Scottish mode. There are still seven rounds to go before the line is drawn in the middle of the table. That is why it is now all or nothing for eleven of the twelve clubs.

Basel (11), YB (5) and Zurich (4) have shared the championship titles since the introduction of the Super League. But since the last finalissima in 2010, when Basel overtook YB in a direct duel, the tension in the championship race has been almost entirely absent. Only GC can keep up with FCB in 2013 and 2014; In the 2020 Corona season, which was interrupted for four months, St. Gallen is tied with YB after 26 rounds. Otherwise there will be boredom in the spring. The only question is: when is the master determined mathematically? Before or after Easter?

This Christmas season too, there are many signs that YB will go it alone again. The Croesus league leads St. Gallen with five points. A serious challenger? Not in sight. But everything has changed since the turn of the year: Servette began to rise, YB weakened and fired the coach. The Championship Group promises extra excitement, in which the top 6 teams compete against each other again. Also because of a possible showdown between the two championship candidates in the Stade de Genève.

Watch prediction: Small advantage for YB, as the coaching question has been clarified for the time being and the Bernese can only concentrate on the championship race.

You can see how balanced the Super League is in midfield. There are still four places to be won behind YB and Servette for the Championship Group, where five teams are competing. A team from the quintet FCZ, Lugano, St. Gallen, Lucerne and Winterthur ends up in the dust. From now on, no one can afford a series of winless games. Consistency is needed now more than ever. There are only five points between currently third-placed FCZ and seventh-placed Winterthur.

If you look closely at the 2024 annual table, things look bleak, especially for St. Gallen. The Eastern Swiss have only collected 7 points this year. For comparison: Winterthur has already scored more than twice as many points (15) in the same period. The final program also does not necessarily speak for the Espen. They still have to play against four teams from the top seven. After all, they can play three of the matches in their own stadium. But that won’t do them any good if they don’t quickly regain the home strength from the first half of the season. The rest of the program for Winterthur is quite similar. FCZ and Luzern, on the other hand, have “only” three teams left from the top division. Lugano has the supposedly easiest matches ahead of it.

FC Basel also plays a decisive role in the line battle. However, only as a supporting role, because the gap to 6th place is probably too big. In addition to St. Gallen, the Bebbi will also compete against the other four contenders for the Championship Group. The FCB decides who will be in the top six.

Watch prediction: Winterthur and St. Gallen are tied for sixth place. With a small advantage for the Espen because, unlike the Eulachstädters, they no longer have to play against FCB.

Drama, baby, drama! Only once since the reintroduction of the barrage (2018/2019) was everything clear in the table cellar before the last day of play. In the summer of 2019, Xamax was already confirmed as a Barrage participant – just like GC as a confirmed relegation. It won’t be that tough for the Hoppers this season, bottom team Lausanne-Ouchy is already far behind.

The record champions duel with Basel, Yverdon and Lausanne for the Barrage place twelve laps before the end. All four teams are within two points. Even though FCB is still aiming for the top 6, the uncomfortable reality is a relegation battle. The main reason for this is Basel’s catastrophic record against the other basement teams.

Lausanne-Sport is still on the Barrageplein, but the team shape of Ludovic Magnin (44) points upwards. Only one of the last six games has been lost. Moreover, the Vaudois have the most quality in the team after FCB. It’s different at Yverdon. After a great start to the season, the promoted team is falling further and further down the rankings. Now nerves seem tense on the southwestern side of Lake Neuchâtel. Three sacks and zero points are the result of the last three games. The newcomer’s big asset: Yverdon has only lost three times in their local Municipal this season.

That leaves GC. The record champion lost two crucial points last weekend with a weak performance at bottom team Lausanne-Ouchy. Zurich’s shockingly innocent offensive is the cause of this. GC scored three goals in the last six games. In addition, only St. Gallen scored fewer points in 2024 than Bruno Berner’s team (46).

Watch prediction: In Basel you don’t have to worry about staying in the competition until the end of the season. GC, Lausanne and Yverdon fight a three-way battle, ultimately the Hoppers have to take the barrage against Thun.