The first round of the Swiss Football Cup is always the clash between the professional clubs and the amateur clubs. The big clubs travel to the provinces, where they usually win easily and advance to the next round of the cup table.
This year, however, there is plenty of tinder in the opening games: there is a real derby in two cities. On the one hand, FC Breitenrain will host Bern's Young Boys (the two stadiums are one kilometer apart as the crow flies), while on the other, FC Lucerne will take on the Lucerne district of Kriens.
The Lucerne derby between FCL and SC Kriens has a long tradition. In the 1990s and 2000s, the duel took place a total of 14 times in the National League A, Super League and Challenge League. They met once in the Cup.
And a look at the database reveals astonishing things, at least if you look at the home statistics of the current Promotion League club: SCK defeated big brother FCL five times at home in the championship, they drew once and Lucerne only won once. Unfortunately, things look different from Kriens' point of view in the cup: FCL made short work of Kriens in the 2nd round in 2006, winning 4:0. In addition, although SC Kriens is the home team on paper in this year's first round, the match will be played in Lucerne's Swissporarena due to the renovation of the small pitch.
The underdog Kriens should take heart from the test match against FCL at the end of June. The two Lucerne city clubs drew 3-3.
Things look even better for Breitenrain in the Bern city derby: Breitenrain defeated Super League side YB 1-0 in a test match in June, so the favorites have already been warned.
HELVETIA SWISS CUP 2017/18
12.08.17, Various locations
13.08.17, Various venues
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