The final fixture of matchday three in the Swiss Super League will see St Gallen play host to Luzern at Kybunpark on Sunday evening.
St Gallen come into this match off the back of a 1-0 loss to the early league leaders Lugano, while the visitors secured their place in the third qualifying round of the Conference League by holding Swedish side Djurgarden to a hard-fought draw.
Match preview
The hosts would have seen last season as a step backward, finishing in sixth place with 45 points compared to the fifth-placed finish with 50 points that they managed in the 2021-22 Super League season.
The two-time league champions finished four points behind Basel last term but got this season started with an excellent result over the same opponent, beating them 2-1 in the opening league match two weeks ago.
Against Lugano, they recorded an impressive 17 shots on goal and five on target but were unable to find the back of the net after going a goal down midway through the second half.
Despite finishing in the bottom half of the table last season, Peter Zeidler's side had one of the better home records in the league, with 30 points taken from a possible 54, posting a record of eight wins, six draws and four losses.
This proved to be a very evenly contested battle last season as each of the last three encounters between these sides ended level, and based on their early season form, there is little to choose between them in this one as well.
Meanwhile, Luzern had a remarkable turnaround last season, going from the relegation playoffs in 2021-22 to a Europa Conference League qualifier spot the next season and finishing just eight points behind the top two sides.
In addition, they have begun this season very promisingly, unbeaten in their first two league matches with a draw and a win, while also navigating a tricky tie against Djuragarden to secure a 3-2 aggregate win in midweek.
After losing their last match of the season to Servette, Mario Frick's side won all four of their preseason friendlies and are now unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions, with six wins and two draws.
Interestingly, Luzern were better in away matches last season than on their home patch, as they managed the league's join-best away record with 28 points in 18 matches, which was level with the eventual league champions Young Boys.
While the last three matches between these sides have ended level, Luzern would not have forgotten the hefty defeat they suffered at this venue in the first of the four meetings last season, and they will be out to get their revenge in this one.
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Team News
Defensive duo Nicolas Luchinger and Musah Nuhu will miss out on this match as the pair have been ruled out for the next few weeks through injury.
Willem Geubbels and Lukas Gortler opened their accounts for the season against Basel and should keep their places, while Julian Von Moos will be hoping to do likewise in this one.
Meanwhile, Frick has just one injury absentee in the form of Thibault Klidje, who is suffering from a knee injury and is likely to remain out for the foreseeable future.
Lars Villiger scored twice off the bench against Stade Lausanne-Ouchy and looked sharp again when he came on in midweek, which could tempt Frick into handing him his first start of the campaign.
St Gallen possible starting lineup:
Ati; Zanotti, Vallci, Diaby, Schmidt; Gortler, Fazliji, Quintilla, Witzig; Geubbels, Von Moos
Luzern possible starting lineup:
Loretz; Dorn, Burch, Beka, Frydek; Kadak, Beloko, Meyer; Villiger, Ademi, Spadanuda
We say: St Gallen 2-2 Luzern
Both these sides have shown positive and negative signs in the early stages of the season, and there is very little to choose between them coming into this fixture. We expect a very closely-contested match and feel that it will end level at the full-time whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
