The catalyst for FC Sion's late comeback on Friday was one of my favourite players from 2024/2025 - Ilyas Chouaref #SwissSuperLeague

FC Sion's crazy comeback in the opening matchday of the Swiss Super League season highlighted a couple of players that I wasn't that familiar with. One of these was Miguel Reichmuth of FC Zürich #SwissSuperLeague

Benno Schmitz leaving for Bayern Munich II is a surprise given his level is suited to a bottom half Swiss Super League club. More change for Grasshopper Club given the mass exodus of loanees.

Can’t understand the decision for Servette to not sign Alioune Ndoye after his loan spell; such an excellent physical profile. Won’t be short of suitors.

Conté not returning is no surprise. I hope they don’t rely on Noah Persson returning from loan to replace him, particularly if Hadjam departs. Persson is an okay player for lower table teams but would represent a step back for Young Boys if he reintegrates into the squad.

CB was a real weakness for Young Boys last year, keen to see how Wüthrich fits in.

I’m late commenting on Lugano’s signing of Damian Kelvin but 2 options are possible here: 1. No departures and Lugano retain their back 3. 2. CB departure and Kelvin is a replacement. I hope it’s the latter option, though really hope it isn’t Hajdari leaving (despite it being the likely outcome).

Athekame is an impressive young player and re-signing with Young Boys until 2029 is a reward for the progress he made this season. His goal for next season will surely be to cement the starting RB position ahead of Blum.

I know he's had trouble staying healthy, but Ignacio Aliseda departing is a big loss for Lugano; he averaged a goal involvement every 111 minutes in the league this season. His long-term hamstring injury coincided with the start of Lugano's poor league form.

I believe Anto Grgic is Lugano's second most important player for the way they play (after Uran Bislimi). I have just been able to view the first half only of Lugano's recent fixture away vs Lausanne, and he was by far the standout performer to HT.

Should Yverdon Sport be relegated, Christian Marques is a player that will potentially move on from the club.

Benito and Lauper fail to communicate on an aerial ball and clash heads. Sickening collision though solidifies my opinion based on this season (voiced minutes earlier).

Rare occasion today where time zones line up and I can view and comment on a game live: Young Boys (YB) hosting Basel (BAS). Whilst the result will not impact the table for the champions, there’s Champions League Football on the line for YB and 3pts would be massive #YBBAS

And here are the Winterthur ratings

Here are my comments on each of the Yverdon players' performances

The definition of a relegation 6-pointer as Yverdon Sport (YS) travelled to Winterthur (WIN). Before kickoff, WIN occupied the relegation playoff spot, level on points with 3rd-last GCZ, and 1 pt ahead of YS with 2 games to play. Here is my breakdown of the game🧵

What a strike it was by Kabashi - a 17-year-old in only his second appearance in the Swiss Super League. Excellent technique to turn and a great finish in off the post. I was very impressed with his cameo off the bench, albeit against a tired, 10-man Yverdon side.

Initially wanted to analyse the relegation 6-pointer between Yverdon Sport (YS) and Grasshopper Club Zurich (GCZ), though the 2nd yellow to YS's Tavares on 5' meant detailed analysis would not be particularly relevant. I instead want to highlight one of GCZ's standouts. #GCZYS

Aside from the first 15 minutes of the second half, Lugano prevented Basel from playing the end to end attacking football that has been so free scoring during the second half of the season. This stifled the effectiveness of Traore and Otele, though both contributed defensively.

I've only just been able to view the second half of Basel's 5-2 win at Lugano. Having watched the first half a couple of days ago, I couldn't understand how, against 10 men, Lugano were able to concede 4 second half goals based on how the first half played out.

My thoughts on the individual performances for Lugano in their 2-0 away win at FC Luzern. Huge win for the side which puts them right back in the hunt for Europe. #LUZLUG #creditsuissesuperleague

Perhaps unfairly omitted from this conversation was Joe Mendes, on loan at Basel from SC Braga but with the option to buy in the summer.

Uran Bislimi has been one of my favourite players to watch this season. He has been deployed in a number of roles, though he is best utilised as Lugano's most advanced midfielder, linking the midfield and attack.

Another player out of contract in the summer I really like is Tsiy Ndenge of Grasshopper Zurich. Linked with a move back to Germany in January and could be on the move in the summer.

Keen to see this young duo (assuming they start) vs Lausanne this weekend

Ignacio Aliseda is one of the most intriguing players out of contract in the summer. I was impressed by him performances in the first half of the season, though he has only managed three appearances totaling 35 minutes since the league restarted. A brief breakdown below: 🧵

Watched Basel’s 5-0 demolition of Yverdon in the final matchday before the league split. Initially planned to focus on Leon Avdullahu, a player who has impressed me every time I’ve watched him, but he was outshone by his midfield partner.

Just like last week my viewing of Joel Schmied is limited as he starts on the bench as Cologne travel to Hannover. Great viewing to start to the game, Hyun-Ju Lee creating space for himself with neat footwork but firing wide for the hosts with the goal at his mercy.

Good to see Aurèle Amenda get some minutes for Frankfurt late in their 4-0 demolition of RB Leipzig. Given his overall lack of involvement this season (partially due to his ankle injury), interested to see whether he looks for a different opportunity in the summer.

NEW POD! S2 Ep8 As the league splits, who will be happy with their position & who will be asking some serious questions? Who will be playing in the Swiss Cup Final? Who will be challenging for the Women's title? Will Young Boys & Basel earn the right to a final showdown? linktr.ee/SwissStadia

Assessed the individual performances of the St. Gallen players during their recent 1-0 win at home vs FC Sion. St. Gallen's season is essentially now over having not qualified for the championship group and have all but avoided relegation. #SGSIO #creditsuissesuperleague

Just watched Sion's 1-0 loss to St Gallen earlier this week and I am certainly backing my assessment that Gora Diouf has severe limitations on the ball (as opposed to my earlier evaluation that he is very comfortable in possession). #SGSIO #creditsuissesuperleague

Servette’s 2-1 victory over Luzern was the first time I have able to get a proper look at Alioune Ndoye. DOB: 05/10/2001 (23) Height: 1.91m Nation: Senegal 🇸🇳 Position: ST Parent Club: Valmiera 🇱🇻 (on loan until end of season, buy option available)

Unfortunately, Mattia Zanotti's performance vs Lausanne was not as successful as Tsunemoto's outing. Substituted in the opening half hour through injury, just after failing to track Diabate's run for the opening goal, ghosting in between the fullback and Lukas Mai.

Tsunemoto was outstanding in Servette's 2-1 win at home vs FC Luzern. Below are my comments on his performance

Will be watching both the Servette and Lugano games through the lens of their respective RBs (or RWB in Zanotti's case assuming Hajdari is fit to start). Different profiles but, to me, the two standout RBs in the league this season.

Tuned into the Cologne vs Münster 2. Bundesliga game in the hope of seeing former FC Sion defender Joel Schmied in action, but he is on the bench. I was, however, able to see a spectacular double save from Munster GK, Johannes Schenk - do yourself a favour and find a video.

Nishan Burkart was the standout performer in Winterthur's 1-0 win at Grasshopper Club Zurich. His goal was the difference between the sides, a well taken finish on his left, pouncing on a mis-controlled clearance from Tim Meyer just after HT. #GCZWIN #creditsuissesuperleague

Albian Hajdari is the final CB to unpack. The defender re-signed in October until the end of the 2027/2028 season and recently made his Switzerland debut as a HT substitute against Luxembourg.

Just like that, Mai has re-signed until 2027, joining a list of core players to recommit to the club this season. Will be exciting to see what they can produce next year.

Out of possession Lukas Mai is perfectly suited to the CCB role in Lugano's back 3, though his in possession role is somewhat redundant based on the other starters in the side. I still think he is best suited to a back 4, though remains comfortable in a 3.

The current back 3 employed by Lugano only really plays into the strengths of one of the CBs below in all phases, and that is Papadopoulos. Papadopoulos has a great amount of intensity in his game, though this often causes chaos.

Sorry been sick all weekend - will attend to this during the week

Lugano's back 3 - different but complementary profiles To be unpacked over the weekend...

I've watched FC Lugano quite closely this season. Clearly the team has waned over the previous weeks and months, though they got a much needed (and deserved) 3 points away at Yverdon this week. Here is my assessment of how the game unfolded 🧵 #YSLUG

I have been impressed of what I had seen from Paul Bernardoni - particularly his MOM performance in a 2-0 win vs Lugano back in October. I watched his performance in the 1-1 draw vs Sion at the weekend and he a player I am keeping an eye on.

Gora Diouf had been a peripheral figure since joining Sion in August 2022, however, he has become a mainstay of Sion’s back 4 this season, making 20 league starts this term. I watched his 72' of Sion’s 1-1 draw at home vs Yverdon Sport before being forced off due to injury.

FC Lugano are Switzerland’s last hope in Europe in what has been a nightmare season for Swiss sides; Young Boys failing to register a point in the #UCL and St Gallen not making it past the league phase of the #UECL

FC Lugano getting out of jail (again!) with Grgic’s controversial stoppage time penalty could prove to be a big result in the title race A couple of short player observations from Lugano’s 3-2 victory over FC Sion #creditsuissesuperleague #LUGSIO