With the mathematical award of the Swiss championship title to Basel, the main conundrum of the 2024/25 edition of the Championship Group has been cleared. It now remains to fill the second through sixth places that will allow three or four teams (depending on the outcome of the Swiss Cup final) to take part in the European Cup preliminaries.
SERVETTE-LUGANO THURSDAY 8:30 P.M.
The final round for the title will experience a midweek round. Lausanne-Basel is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, at 8:30 p.m., while YB-Lucerne and Servette-Lugano will face each other on Thursday.
FIVE TEAMS WITHIN A FEW POINTS
Each match puts crucial points at stake for the final placings. The current standings see, behind champions Basel (67 points), Servette (56), YB (54), Lucerne and Lugano (52) and Lausanne (51). Goal difference could ultimately matter, and in this perspective the Lausanne are the best placed with +9, ahead of Lucerne +8, YB +6, Servette +5 and Lugano +0.
THIS YEAR TWO WINS TO ONE
The challenge between Geneva and Lugano will be played at the Stade de Genève where Lugano in its only appearance this season (it was Dec. 1) was defeated 3-0 (Crivelli and Rouiller's double). The other two direct confrontations, played in Cornaredo, saw Croci-Torti's boys prevail on the third day 3-1 (Belhadj, Mazikou's own goal and Steffen) and the Romanses impose a month and a half ago (29th) 2-0 (the usual Crivelli and Ouattara).
IN GENEVA 8 TIES IN 13 CHALLENGES
Cognat and companions constitute, in short, a tough opponent. Last season they conceded only one point (2-2 in Geneva) in four games. The balance since 2015 is more reassuring with eight Ticino wins, 10 draws and seven Romande affirmations. At the Stade de Genève out of 13 challenges as many as eight have ended in a draw. For the rest 3 local and 2 guest wins.
FIVE GOALS FROM BASILEA
To Thursday night's match, the team coached by Thomas Häberli arrives after a home draw (0-0) with YB and a defeat in Basel (5-1) also in that case with Shaqiri the star performer with a goal and three assists.
KUTESA BEST SCORER
On the Granata front best scorer so far is Derek Kutesa (who will leave the club at the end of the season) with 13 goals and 3 assists. He is followed by the evergreen Miroslav Stevanovic (10+9) and the mighty Enzo Crivelli (8+2).
SIMILAR ATTACKS IN NUMBERS
The Geneva attack has so far not been much more prolific than the HCL attack (53 goals to 52). Servente's forwards shoot more toward the opponent's goals (380 to 368) but with less accuracy (48% to 51%).
GOOD DEFENSIVE SOLIDITY
Defensively, the team showed decent solidity (46 goals conceded vs. 52) and won 64% of tackles while Lugano came in at 60%. Fouls committed: 342 for Servette (with 56 yellows) and 399 by the Ticinese (91 cautions).
