Needing three points to secure a spot in Champions League qualifying, Servette have the chance to seal their place in next season’s competition when they welcome Lausanne Sport to Stade de Geneve on Saturday.
While the hosts are on course to finish runners-up in the Swiss Super League, their visitors sit fifth and can still sneak into Europe.
Match preview
© Imago
Following their first back-to-back league wins since March, Servette would finish the Super League campaign second behind new champions Basel by beating Lausanne this weekend, while even a draw or defeat could prove enough if third-placed Young Boys slip up.
First, Les Grenats saw off Lugano with a 4-1 home win, before edging out Luzern in a seven-goal thriller. No fewer than four penalties – two for each side – were awarded and then converted, as Servette almost threw away a three-goal lead against the latter but still came out on top.
Miroslav Stevanovic twice scored from the spot before half time, and substitute Dereck Kutesa added another in the second half to make it 3-0, but they only prevailed by a 4-3 scoreline after a frantic finale.
Nonetheless, Thomas Haberli‘s team go into the final round as masters of their own destiny, knowing that they can now wrap up a place in the Champions League qualifiers.
Having just scored four goals in consecutive Super League fixtures for the first time – helping them break a 21-year-old club record for goals scored in a top-flight campaign – they may expect to finish the job on Saturday evening.
Lausanne have lost their last four league games at Stade de Geneve, in addition to a 1-0 home defeat when these clubs last met in March. On the latter occasion, Stevanovic scored Servette’s winner at Stade de la Tuiliere – once again, from the spot.
While their hosts have recently found some form, Ludovic Magnin‘s men are winless in three games ahead of this contest, leaving them outside of the all-important top four.
After a 1-1 draw between the pair last week, Lausanne still trail Lugano by one point, so they must now better the fourth-placed side’s result; otherwise, they will miss out on a place in next season’s Conference League.
Having already set a new club record by reaching 52 points, it has already been a groundbreaking campaign, but a last-day win in Geneva could make it even more memorable.
Team News
© Imago
Servette coach Thomas Haberli will be without Steve Rouiller due to injury for Saturday’s season finale but should otherwise have a fully fit squad.
While Jeremy Guillemenot started up front last time out, Enzo Crivelli, Dereck Kutesa and teenage winger Keyan Varela are among several players vying for promotion from the bench.
Sure to start, Miroslav Stevanovic not only bagged a brace last week but also set a new personal best of 23 goal involvements (13 goals, 10 assists) in one season – only Basel’s Xherdan Shaqiri has more in the Swiss top flight this term (38).
Meanwhile, Lausanne are missing Noe Dussenne, Marvin Senaya and Alvyn Sanches. The latter was voted this season’s ‘Golden Player’ by the Swiss Association of Football Players, beating Shaqiri to the award by posting 12 goals and four assists from 28 matches.
However, the 22-year-old then tore a cruciate ligament in his first senior international appearance for Switzerland, so Senegalese striker Kaly Sene now poses the visitors’ main threat.
Servette possible starting lineup:
Mall; Tsunemoto, Severin, Baron, Mazikou; Ondoua, Cognat; Stevanovic, Antunes, Varela; Crivelli
Lausanne Sport possible starting lineup:
Castella; Giger, Mouanga, Sow, Poaty; Custodio, Roche, Koindredi; Okou, Sene, Diabate
We say: Servette 2-1 Lausanne Sport
Servette have found their shooting boots at just the right time, so they should have sufficient firepower to see off Lausanne and book their berth in Champions League qualifying.
Even if ‘Plan A’ fails, Les Grenats have notched 13 goals via substitutes this season – a new club record – and they can take advantage of having more strength in depth.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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