Matchday three in the 2023-24 Swiss Super League will get underway this weekend, with Stade Lausanne-Ouchy playing host to Servette at Stade Olympique de la Pontaise on Saturday evening.
The hosts come into this match at the bottom of the league table after two matches, while the visitors are unbeaten and are currently in second place, two points behind the early league leaders Lugano.
Match preview
Last season, Stade Lausanne-Ouchy performed admirably, consistently occupying a place in the top half of the Swiss Challenge League table, but their real triumph came in the final stages when they surged to third place, earning a chance to compete in the promotion playoff against FC Sion.
Demonstrating their prowess, they emerged victorious in the first leg in Sion with a 2-0 scoreline, while back on their home turf, they continued their winning streak, prevailing with a 4-2 victory in the second leg to earn promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history.
However, life in the Super League has not been kind to Anthony Braizat's side, as they were beaten fairly comprehensively by Lugano 3-0 in their opening match of the season and then suffered a 2-1 defeat against Luzern last weekend, leaving them as the only side that has not earned a point as yet this season.
Stade Lausanne-Ouchy recorded the fourth-best home record in the Challenge League last season with nine wins, three draws, and six losses in 18 matches at Stade Olympique de la Pontaise but will likely find it difficult in this one against a side that have improved noticeably over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, after a forgettable 2021-22 season where they only managed a sixth-place finish, Servette emerged as the second-best side in Switzerland last season, beaten only by Young Boys.
The visitors recorded 14 wins, 16 draws and six losses in their 36 matches last term, finishing 16 points behind the league champions, and they have got this season off to a solid start with a 3-1 win over Grasshoppers in their first match followed by a 2-2 draw against Zurich last weekend.
Having finished second last season, Servette are also involved in the Champions League qualifiers at the moment and secured their spot in the third qualifying round after beating Genk on penalties in midweek despite going down to 10 men after just five minutes.
Rene Weiler's side recorded the fourth-best tally in away matches last term, with 25 points taken from a possible 54, and while that may not seem great on the surface, it is worth pointing out that Young Boys, who had the best away record, took just 28 points in their 18 matches.
Servette have played this opponent in friendly matches twice every season since 2019 and have been the more successful, unbeaten in their last two encounters while only losing once in their last five meetings.
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Team News
At this early stage of the season, Braizat already has a number of injury concerns and confirmed absentees to contend with for this crucial match.
Elies Mahmoud scored Stade Lausanne-Ouchy's first goal of the campaign from off the bench in the last match against Luzern but was shown red just eight minutes later and will start the first of his three-match suspension in this one.
Marc Tsoungui (knock), Mischa Eberhard (muscle), Romain Bayard (knock) and Charles Abi (muscle) were all left out of the last match with injuries, and there has been no confirmation of any of them returning this weekend as yet.
Chris Bedia and Timothe Cognat got on the scoresheet against Genk in midweek and will likely retain their spots in the side with David Douline, who also had a solid outing.
Enzo Crivelli was the player that was sent off in the match but should return for this fixture. However, Jeremy Guillemenot may be returned to the starting 11 after coming off the bench in the last match.
Stade Lausanne-Ouchy possible starting lineup:
Da Silva; Obexer, Pos, Hajrulahu, Gassama; Hamdiju, Bamba, Mulaj, Qarri, Ajdini; Hadji
Servette possible starting lineup:
Frick; Tsunemoto, Rouiller, Severin, Mazikou; Antunes, Cognat, Baron, Pflucke; Bedia, Crivelli
We say: Stade Lausanne-Ouchy 0-2 Servette
Based on their first two fixtures, the hosts look as though they are going to find it very difficult to avoid relegation this season, while the visitors have carried their solid form from last term into this one.
Servette will be expecting all three points here, and we fancy they will get the job done with a clean sheet.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
