Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Swiss Super League clash between St Gallen and Grasshopper Zurich, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Grasshopper Zurich will be looking to secure their first win of the Swiss Super League season when they travel to the AFG Arena to face St Gallen on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the hosts head into this clash, aiming to extend their winning streak to three matches to keep up with the league leaders.
Match preview
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St Gallen have built momentum after progressing to the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League with a 2-0 victory over Slask Wroclaw.
Following a narrow opening-day defeat to Winterthur, Enrico Maassen‘s side responded with impressive wins over Young Boys and Lausanne Sport.
With six points from three games, St Gallen are currently fourth in the table, three points behind the first-placed team, as they chase their first league title in 24 years.
Their recent form, which includes five consecutive victories across all competitions, makes them strong favourites to achieve this, and they will hope to take this momentum into their next match.
The hosts hold a strong record against Sunday’s opposition coming into this clash, having won two and drawn four of their last six meetings.
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Grasshopper Zurich have endured a difficult start to the current Swiss Super League campaign, with no wins from their opening three matches.
Marco Schallibaum‘s team lost 2-1 to Lugano in their first game of the season, before drawing 2-2 with Luzern in their second game despite taking the lead in both games.
The Zurich-based club were outclassed by Basel in their last league game on Sunday, losing 3-0, making them one of the three teams without a win so far.
The Hoppers have one point, and are one spot from the bottom in the standings, as they head into the fourth round tie against St Gallen.
The record-league winners must quickly turn the screw to avoid a repeat of such danger, which will require them to pick up a first win against the hosts since 2022.
St Gallen Swiss Super League form:
St Gallen form (all competitions):
Grasshopper Zurich Swiss Super League form:
Grasshopper Zurich form (all competitions):
Team News
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St Gallen will continue to be without Betim Fazliji and Musah Nuhu, both of whom are sidelined for the foreseeable future with cruciate ligament injuries.
Gregory Karlen is also set to remain out until the end of the season as he recovers from knee surgery undergone in April, while 32-year-old midfielder Richard van der Venne is doubtful due to a knee problem.
The visitors will also be without Michael Kempter for the entire season following a serious knee injury.
Joshua Laws is another absentee with a knee injury, while Dirk Abels is recovering from a hip injury and is expected to return at the end of the month.
St Gallen possible starting lineup:
Ati; Schmidt, Diaby, Vallci, Okoroji; Gortler, Quintilla, Witzig; Toma; Akolo, Geubbels
Grasshopper Zurich possible starting lineup:
Hammel; Paskotsi, Tobers, Decarli, Matam; Abrashi, Seko; Mabil, Morandi, Schurpf; Muci
We say: St Gallen 2-1 Grasshopper Zurich
St Gallen have bounced back strongly since their opening-day defeat, winning the subsequent five matches, while the visitors have struggled, suggesting that the home side will win this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.