The Kybunpark was buzzing with anticipation as 19,555 fans gathered to witness the Swiss Super League season opener between underdogs St. Gallen and reigning champions FC Basel.
The atmosphere was electric, with St. Gallen supporters dreaming of defying the odds and reaching new heights against their formidable opponents. Despite being overshadowed by Basel’s illustrious status as the previous season’s league and cup winners, St. Gallen came into the match with a fighting spirit. As the match kicked off, the early exchanges were a testament to both teams’ hunger, with Basel’s goalkeeper, Marwin Hitz, displaying stunning reflexes to keep his team in contention. Yet, the evening was destined for a dramatic twist, with St. Gallen’s resilience shining through in a memorable victory that left Basel coach Ludovic Magnin reflecting on a bitter start to the season.
Early Stages: Basel’s Missed Opportunities
Hitz’s Heroics
The match began at a frenetic pace, with both sides creating chances in the opening exchanges. Basel’s goalkeeper Marwin Hitz quickly became the centre of attention, pulling off a series of spectacular saves to deny St. Gallen. His acrobatic efforts kept Basel in the game, frustrating the home side’s attackers time and again. St. Gallen came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when they struck the crossbar, but Hitz’s heroics ensured the scores remained level.
Basel’s Fortuitous Lead
Görtler’s Unfortunate Moment
Despite St. Gallen’s promising start, it was Basel who took the lead in the 40th minute through an unfortunate own goal. A corner from Xherdan Shaqiri led to a sharp shot from Bénie Traoré, which deflected off St. Gallen captain Lukas Görtlerand into the net. This gave Basel a flattering 1-0 lead at halftime, considering the number of chances St. Gallen had created. The home fans were left wondering if their team’s efforts would go unrewarded.
St. Gallen’s Resilient Comeback
Görtler’s Redemption
St. Gallen’s determination paid off in the 56th minute when Lukas Görtler redeemed himself. Following another corner, Görtler showed great effort to push the ball over the line, scoring a deserved equaliser. The captain’s goal ignited the Kybunpark, with fans sensing a potential upset in the making.
Geubbels’ Winner
The home side’s resilience was fully rewarded in the 75th minute when Willem Geubbels rose highest to meet a cross from Baldé. His powerful header found the back of the net, sending the St. Gallen faithful into raptures. The 2-1 scoreline reflected St. Gallen’s dominance and set the stage for a tense finale.
Basel’s Second-Half Struggles
Missed Opportunities
Basel’s attempts to salvage the match were hampered by their continued wastefulness in front of goal. Albian Ajetimissed a golden opportunity with a wayward header, while Kevin Carlos failed to capitalise when presented with a clear chance in front of goal. These misses proved costly as St. Gallen held on for a famous victory.
Final Whistle: Triumph and Despair
St. Gallen’s Joy
As the referee blew the final whistle, the Kybunpark erupted in celebration. St. Gallen had secured a memorable 2-1 victory over the reigning champions, extending their impressive home record against Basel to seven matches unbeaten. The result was a testament to the team’s fighting spirit and tactical acumen.
Basel’s Bitter Start
For Basel and their new coach Ludovic Magnin, the defeat marked a bitter start to their title defence. It was the third consecutive opening day loss for FCB, raising early questions about their championship credentials. The result left Magnin and his team with much to ponder as they looked to bounce back from this setback.
Post-Match Reactions
Words from the Victors
St. Gallen captain Lukas Görtler shared his emotions after the match: “I told the guys at lunch that I would score a goal. That I then scored the first one like that is bitter and unlucky. I stand there as if rooted and can’t move. That’s why the motivation was great to score another one for us. With a defeat to go to bed would have been bitter. So I decided at half-time to score another goal – so everything is good.”
St. Gallen coach Enrico Maaßen expressed pride in his team’s performance: “I am very proud of my young team how they did it today against the champion and cup winner. It was a 50-50 game over the whole match, it went back and forth… and then we still stayed with us and that’s really good that we remained stable and in the second half just continued there, forced it somehow and at some point one falls in too… it is a very good start into the season.”
Basel’s Disappointment
Basel coach Ludovic Magnin reflected on the defeat: “Certainly a bitter evening for us because we don’t take any points with us. I can’t remember having so many clear scoring chances in St. Gallen and not getting a single point… we didn’t score the goals in the key moments… we have too many goals conceded and also on standard situations we were not good enough defensively.”
Basel captain Xherdan Shaqiri, who was more noticeable for discussions than for flashes of genius, commented: “In such a game, you have to be able to deal with pressure. And today, not every player was 100 percent there.”
This thrilling St. Gallen vs Basel encounter set the tone for what promises to be an exciting Swiss Super League season, full of surprises and emotional football highlights.
Electrifying Kybunpark Crowd
The Kybunpark was buzzing with anticipation as 19,555 fans packed the stands for the season opener. The stadium’s unique atmosphere, known for its passionate supporters, was on full display.
St. Gallen’s faithful turned out in force, creating a sea of green and white. Their chants and songs echoed throughout the ground, building an intimidating wall of sound.
The visiting Basel supporters, though outnumbered, made their presence felt. Their red and blue colours dotted the away section, adding to the visual spectacle.
As kick-off approached, the tension in the air was palpable. Both sets of fans knew the importance of starting the season on the right foot.
doragon sports 