Grasshopper Zurich vs Servette
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Today’s free tip is in the Swiss Super League encounter between Grasshopper Zurich and Servette.
Form-wise, you have to fancy both Lugano and FC Basel to claim European places in the Swiss Super League this season. Fifth place will most likely end up in Europe too, as the Schweizer Pokal final will be contested between Young Boys Bern and Lugano, so there’s plenty to play for. However, games are running out, and both Servette and Grasshopper Zurich need the points so I have to believe that they’ll both go for it here.
For my money, Servette are the better team but you wouldn’t know it from displays in 2023. Grasshopper Zurich haven’t been amazing, but they’ve been a lot better than Servette, particularly in recent times. Even the 5-1 defeat in Ticino was pretty harsh on Grasshopper Zurich. The home win was fair, don’t get me wrong, but it was not a drubbing. It was a tactical masterclass from Lugano, and they ruthlessly took their chances, making their opponents rue missing theirs. They’re doing well enough at the moment though, Grasshopper Zurich, enough so to fancy their chances here.
Servette were disappointing against St. Gallen last time out; they seldom really got going, which was a sad way to play after hammering reigning champions FC Zurich 4-0. They can’t afford a repeat display here though, not if they intend on playing in Europe next season, which they really should be gunning for following their superb start to this campaign, and the squad that they have access to. There’s no reason for them to fear Grasshopper Zurich but they need to be more effective.
The visitors could have the answer to that question with Crivelli likely to at least make the bench, meaning that they don’t have to rely on Bedia all of the time. With Stevanovic, Kutesa, and Touati in midfield, not to mention Antunes, they’re not short of creative threats. What they lack is a defence that they can trust. They finally dropped Severin, which was logical enough, but it’s only a partial solution because Rouiller and Vouilloz aren’t that good as a pair either.
On top of the above, keep in mind that Douline is still injured, which denies Servette a natural midfield screener. Of late, Geiger’s solution to that problem has been to field left-back(!) Clichy there, which is utterly mind-blowing. He can’t do that again though, as Clichy is suspended, so protecting their suspect defence will be very challenging here. Indeed, I would be surprised if they headed to the Letzigrund, feeling that a clean sheet is on the cards. They can score more goals than their hosts though, so I believe they’ll try that approach.
I stand by what I said earlier, though – Grasshopper Zurich are in a good place right now. Weirdly, it’s taken poor form from Dadashov and injuries to Momoh and Schettine to find the solution though, which has been forgotten man Demhasaj up front. Since playing, he’s been exactly what they’ve been missing. I mean, creativity is never an issue with Kawabe in the team, especially not now that Shabani is back from suspension, and both Morandi and Pusic are playing well. It’s the striker position that has been a problem – but not anymore, it seems. Well, least not for now.
Grasshopper Zurich lost promising youngster de Carvalho to injury lately; he won’t play again this season, which is another attacking blow for them. I like what they have available though, at least against a suspect Servette defence. I like their confidence levels at the moment, and I’ve loved seeing how strongly they’ve started halves over the past few weeks too. I think they’ll make this game more interesting than they normally would against possession-hungry Servette.
Grasshopper Zurich do have some complications though, especially with Ribeiro out at the back. Returning Loosli is likely to replace him but it’s not a like-for-like replacement. Ndenge is back after injury, and he’s their best defensive midfielder, but has had a lot of problems over the past couple of months so many not play, which may force them to drop others deeper in midfield, which doesn’t suit them and leaves their defence open. In essence, until they control games better, last longer in halves, and have a more established defensive setup, they’re going to concede goals, no matter how they play.
The above makes me think we’ll see goals here, given that both teams really need the points.
Verdict: Over 3 Asian goals at evens.
Sunday’s Thoughts
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts. For confidence ratings, you’ll need to go to the members section here.
Austrian Bundesliga:
Austria Vienna vs Sturm Graz
Austria Klagenfurt vs LASK
Salzburg vs Rapid Vienna
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Antwerp vs Racing Genk
Westerlo vs Cercle Brugge
Brazilian Serie A:
America Mineiro vs Cuiaba
Sao Paulo vs Internacional
Athletico Paranaense vs Flamengo
Bahia vs Coritiba
Botafogo vs Atletico Mineiro
Goias vs Palmeiras
Gremio vs RB Bragantino
Bulgarian A PFG:
Septemvri Sofia vs Pirin Blagoevgrad
Cherno More Varna vs Spartak Varna
Botev Plovdiv vs Ludogorets Razgrad
Croatian Prva Liga:
NK Osijek vs Dinamo Zagreb
Lokomotiva Zagreb vs Hajduk Split
Czechia Liga 1:
Sigma Olomouc vs Sparta Prague
Ceske Budejovice vs Slovan Liberec
Mlada Boleslav vs Hradec Kralove
Slavia Prague vs Bohemians 1905
Danish Superligaen:
Randers vs Brondby
AGF vs Viborg
Aalborg BK vs AC Horsens
Silkeborg vs OB
Lyngby vs FC Midtjylland
English Premier League:
Newcastle United vs Arsenal
West Ham United vs Manchester United
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Kuressaare vs Flora Paide
Flora Tallinn vs Nomme Kalju
Trans Narva vs Vaprus Parnu
Tallinna Kalev vs Tammeka
Finnish Ykkonen:
Gnistan vs Ekenas IF
Jaro Pietarsaari vs TPS
French Ligue 1:
Angers SCO vs AS Monaco
AC Ajaccio vs Toulouse
AJ Auxerre vs Clermont Foot 38
Lorient vs Stade Brestois
FC Nantes Atlantique vs Racing Club Strasbourg
Olympique Lyonnais vs Montpellier HSC
Troyes vs Paris Saint-Germain
German Bundesliga:
Bv09 Borussia Dortmund vs VfL Wolfsburg
German Bundesliga 2:
Heidenheim vs Magdeburg
Nurnberg vs Kaiserslautern
Eintracht Braunschweig vs SV Sandhausen
Hungarian Liga 1:
Zalaegerszegi TE vs Puskas FC
Fehervar vs Mezokovesd-Zsory
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Hapoel Jerusalem vs Maccabi Netanya
Italian Serie A:
Atalanta Bergamo vs Juventus
Torino vs Monza
Udinese vs Sampdoria
SSC Napoli vs ACF Fiorentina
Lecce vs Hellas Verona
Italian Serie B:
Parma vs Brescia
Dutch Eredivisie:
FC Emmen vs FC Twente Enschede
Excelsior Rotterdam vs Feyenoord Rotterdam
Go Ahead Eagles vs FC Groningen
Fortuna Sittard vs Vitesse Arnhem
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Aalesund FK vs Haugesund
Hamarkameratene vs Molde FK
Stabaek vs Sarpsborg 08
Tromso vs Odd
Viking Stavanger vs Stromsgodset
Lillestrom SK vs Bodo/Glimt
Portuguese Liga 1:
Maritimo Funchal vs Rio Ave
Vitoria Guimaraes vs Vizela
Pacos de Ferreira vs Sporting Clube de Portugal
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Malmo FF vs AIK Solna
Halmstad vs BK Hacken Goteborg
Swiss Super League:
Luzern vs Lugano
FC Basel vs FC Zurich
Grasshopper Zurich vs Servette
Swiss Challenge League:
FC Thun vs Vaduz
Turkish Super Lig:
Umraniyespor vs Sivasspor
Konyaspor vs Kayserispor
Giresunspor vs Fenerbahce
Enjoy your free betting tips!