The Young Boys have often been on the bottom so far this season
Image: Keystone
The Luganesi around Renato Steffen have not always been at the top either
Image: Keystone
Dereck Kutesa has already scored eleven times for Servette
Image: Keystone
Lausanne-Sport's rise has a lot to do with the quality of Alvyn Sanches
Image: Keystone
Lucerne coach Mario Frick played an outstanding first half of the season with his young team
Image: Keystone
Xherdan Shaqiri is one of FC Basel's trump cards
Image: Keystone
Sion president Christian Constantin can once again be satisfied with his team after recent results
Image: Keystone
FCZ president Ancillo Canepa has had less and less reason to be happy in recent weeks
Image: Keystone
The Young Boys have often been on the bottom so far this season
Image: Keystone
The Luganesi around Renato Steffen have not always been at the top either
Image: Keystone
Dereck Kutesa has already scored eleven times for Servette
Image: Keystone
Lausanne-Sport's rise has a lot to do with the quality of Alvyn Sanches
Image: Keystone
Lucerne coach Mario Frick played an outstanding first half of the season with his young team
Image: Keystone
Xherdan Shaqiri is one of FC Basel's trump cards
Image: Keystone
Sion president Christian Constantin can once again be satisfied with his team after recent results
Image: Keystone
FCZ president Ancillo Canepa has had less and less reason to be happy in recent weeks
Image: Keystone
The winter break in the Super League is short. The action resumes in mid-January. That's a good thing, because the championship is more exciting than ever.
16.12.2024, 10:01
16.12.2024, 10:26
SDA
You can look at the Super League table after the first 18 rounds however you like. It promises a second half of the season full of excitement. The top five with Lugano, Basel, Lausanne-Sport, Lucerne and Servette are separated by two points. The ninth-placed team is only eight points behind leaders Lugano - and because they are Swiss champions YB, it is not out of the question that the ninth-placed team will end up in first place.
The Super League has never been as evenly matched as it has been in recent months since its inauguration in 2003. In the majority of the 21 seasons to date, the leaders had already pulled away after 18 rounds or, at best, formed an isolated escape group with one or other of their rivals. The fact that so many teams still have hopes of winning the championship is a first and speaks volumes for the expansion of the Super League from ten to twelve teams last season.
Weakening champions
At the origin of all the tension is the fall of the Bernese, who were spoiled by success. The Young Boys have 15 points fewer than a year ago and have thus made room for the competition. They never really found their feet in the first six months of the season, even though they changed their coach early on and Patrick Rahmen had to make way for Joël Magnin.
Rahmen had also come from Winterthur in the summer to make YB's game more spectacular. The most successful Swiss football club in recent years no longer has this aspiration, which has also been the downfall of FC Basel at the peak of its performance in the past. In the Super League, but also in the completely unsuccessful Champions League phase, YB has bounced back hard. The team, which has repeatedly set league bests of late, has yet to win twice in a row in the championship this season.
Club boss Christoph Spycher and sporting director Steve von Bergen did not have a good hand in choosing the coach and managing the squad. However, bad luck also played a role. Many injuries prevented the team from forming. Last week, the death of Meschack Elia's son was a tragedy that had to be dealt with. The fact that they still managed a home win against Servette on Sunday speaks volumes for the team and at least makes a spectacular comeback not seem impossible. Whether with or without Magnin on the bench has not yet been decided at YB.
Inconsistent challengers
YB's predicament should have cleared the way for Lugano and Servette. Both teams had everything they needed to distance themselves from the rest of the league: a strong squad with the experience of winning cups and a good last Super League season as a reference. For Lugano, the double burden of having already played more than 30 games this season seems to be an obstacle to regular good performances. Very good games alternate with mediocre ones.
Servette missed out on the European Cup league phase and can therefore concentrate fully on domestic competitions. Nevertheless, even under coach Thomas Häberli, the Geneva team often loses focus somewhat during games. This was last seen on Sunday against YB, when Dereck Kutesa's brilliant goal was not followed by much compelling play. It seems certain that the first league title since 1999 can only be achieved with Kutesa. The league's top scorer, whose contract expires in the summer, is likely to be courted by other clubs this winter.
Astonishing outsiders
Third-placed Lausanne, who have ten points more than a year ago, will also be watching the transfer window with trepidation. Alvyn Sanches, who is sure to be lining up for Murat Yakin in the Swiss senior national team, is attracting interest from numerous foreign clubs. His remaining in Ludovic Magnin's team depends on how much owner Ineos in London has taken a liking to the Vaud native's exceptional performances.
Alongside Lausanne, Lucerne is the second surprise guest at the top of the Super League. Led by top scorer Thibault Klidjé, who has scored more often than ever before, Lucerne go into their games with a lot of energy. Sometimes that works, like at the weekend in Winterthur with two goals in stoppage time - and sometimes not. Wins and defeats have alternated quite regularly of late.
Given the dormant footballing potential of the club and the city, it could be assumed that FC Basel would soon find themselves back at the top of the Super League. However, after two totally unsuccessful seasons at national level, the past six months have been spectacular. The points haul could have been even better if the goal difference is anything to go by. 41:19 is not normally the goal difference of a team that has lost six out of 18 games.
Two favorites and plenty of opportunities
Like Lugano, Basel seem to be able to shift up a gear or two thanks to the breadth of their squad if things get a little more serious in the title race. Individually, FCB have a whole host of players who can make the difference and, in Xherdan Shaqiri, a leader who is at his best when it counts. Other clubs are more dependent on individual players and could pay dearly in sporting terms if one is transferred in January.
Up to and including YB, however, all teams can dream of a major coup. FC Sion and FC Zurich have recently shown how quickly things can change direction with such a constellation in the table. Six weeks ago, FCZ were eleven points ahead of the Valais side at the top of the table. Now the two teams go into the winter break as neighbors, separated by one point. Zurich are currently sixth in the championship round, while Sion are seventh in the relegation round.
This break will take place on Easter Monday after the 33rd round and will definitely relegate a previous leader to the relegation round. There were seven different league leaders in the first 18 rounds.
