Schaffhausen v Neuchatel Xamax
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Friday 29th July – 6:30PM KO
It has been a lukewarm start to the 22/23 Challenge League season for both Schaffhausen and Neuchatel Xamax ahead of their meeting on Matchday 3 at the WeFox Arena in northern Switzerland.
The home side did start off with victory against FC Thun but were soon brought crashing back down to earth after a 5-1 thrashing away to title favourites Lausanne last Friday. Unsurprisingly, it was Raul Bobadilla who was able to find the net for FCS at the Tulliere, his second goal in as many games and, quite frankly, it is hard to see where else the goals will come from this season. Schaffhausen were free-scoring in 21/22, they bagged 73 goals, but they’ve also lost 53 of those goals in the summer window. New signing Patrick Luan has failed to impress in previous spells in Switzerland with Sion and Kriens but will be expected to take some of that workload.
Xamax are in a similar position. They suffered two defeats to open their campaign and have struggled in attack. Raphael Nuzzolo, scorer of 14 goals last season, turned 39 in early July and carries the weight of this team on his shoulders again. There are question marks on if he is able to deliver as often as he has done in previous years.
These are two teams that are out-of-sorts so far and over reliant on their star strikers. I think that both lack depth and have looked a little toothless and that could be the case again when they go head-to-head here.
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Prediction: Under 3.5 Goals, 1.50 on Betfair (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Yverdon-Sport v FC Thun
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Friday 29th July – 6:30PM KO
Yverdon-Sport enjoyed a successful return to the Challenge League last year, finishing up in eighth and a mammoth thirty-one points ahead of relegated SC Kriens. The remit for the club would’ve been just to stay up by any means necessary, so the ease at which they did so was a great relief. There has been much change since then at the Municipal with the departure of Uli Forte to Germany and the subsequent arrival of Marco Schallibaum.
The early signs suggest that Marco Schallibaum’s Yverdon team will be a much more exciting watch than last season. They only scored 44 goals for the entirety of the last campaign but have already managed four goals in their opening two games in this one, scoring twice in a win against SLO and three in a thrilling draw with Vaduz. They seem to have no problems finding the net but they will also want to tighten up defensively after throwing away a two-goal lead in the final four minutes (plus added time) in the principality.
Thun would’ve been equally frustrated with their rewards against Bellinzona. They are still looking for their first victory after their loss to Schaffhausen was followed up with a home draw against the league’s new boys. It was results like those that prevented them from mounting a serious title challenge last season and it was a match that they really should’ve won too. Thun were dominant throughout only to concede a penalty in the last minute to allow the visitors to snatch a point at the Stockhorn Arena. There is plenty of talent in this Thun squad but they must learn to be more ruthless at this level.
This has all the signs of a good contest. YS were pretty strong at home last season and have brought their friendly goal-scoring exploits into the new season. Thun are still finding their feet but have the quality to trouble a home defence that crumbled against Vaduz. I’d expect both teams to find the net here.
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Prediction: Both Teams to Score, 1.45 on Betfair (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Aarau v Lausanne
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Friday 29th July – 7:15PM KO
Aarau scored their first victory of the season with their comeback from 1-0 down against Neuchatel Xamax at the Maladiere last weekend. After a lacklustre draw against Vaduz on opening night, it was a welcome three points on the road for the Brugglfield club.
Shkelqim Vladi scored his second goal in as many weeks to tie up the game before Nikola Gjorgev struck in the final twenty minutes to seal the win. Vladi originally joined on loan from YB last winter and scored four goals in ten appearances. His permanent move in the summer could prove to be an excellent piece of business by Stephan Keller who will also be encouraged that exciting talent Gjorgev was able to get his first goal for the club in that victory.
Lausanne answered their critics in emphatic fashion with their trouncing of Schaffhausen at the Tulliere. If there were any doubts that this team lacked the firepower to finish top of this league, Ludovic Magnin’s men blew them out of the water with the five goals they scored. It won’t be surprising if LS record more score lines like this throughout the season given the depth and quality in their squad.
These two teams have the most exciting attacking line-ups in the league and have signed well in that department in this window. This is also a fixture that promises goals, 10 of the last 11 games at this venue have had at least three goals. With both full of confidence after wins last weekend, I think there will be plenty of goals here again.
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Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals, 1.57 on Betfair (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Bellinzona v Stade Lausanne-Ouchy
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Saturday 30th July – 5:00PM KO
Bellinzona continued their excellent start to life in the Challenge League with a great point away to FC Thun last weekend. In truth, it was a game that Bellinzona were lucky to take anything from, but they dug in and earned the luck towards the end of the game that earned them a share of the spoils. It already looks like they will be a tough nut to crack in 22/23, especially at their Comunale home where they have already beaten Lausanne.
Stade Lausanne-Ouchy lost their star striker in the transfer window, but they’ve managed to find three goals in their opening two matches. After an opening day defeat, they bounced back with a 2-1 victory over FC Wil and make the long journey to Ticino to reacquaint themselves with a Bellinzona side they last played back in 2019 in Switzerland’s third-tier.
The home side have proven themselves to be very stubborn so far and it has served them well with a win and a draw. They were able to shut out Lausanne in their first match and also kept themselves in the game despite the domination of FC Thun in the second. At their home ground, they’ll be difficult to break down again. As a result, I don’t think there will be too many goals in this one.
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Prediction: Under 3.5 Goals, 1.44 on Betfair (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
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