Lakers vs Geneva on Friday – The Surprise of the Season vs Team of the Hour: Who Will Win? – Sports
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No team has such a run as Geneva, nobody amazes as much as Rapperswil-Jona. Now it’s time for the rendezvous.
Last Friday, the Lakers lost 5-2 to Ambri in their first game of the new year at home. In the “vintage game” – the St. Gallen were in yellow jerseys from days gone by – back to “vintage results”, one could say a little cheeky.
Many a fan, expert or chronicler might have wondered that evening whether the corona-related break took the wind out of the sails of the Lakers, who had been playing so refreshingly and successfully so far. The answer came in Rapperswil-Jona 24 hours later in Graubünden. Led by an outstanding Melvin Nyffeler in goal, the Lakers defeated HCD 2-0.
Strong foundation
Coach Stefan Hedlund’s team is often praised almost exclusively for its offensive power. Only Freiburg (3.31 goals/game) have hit the bull’s eye more often than the Lakers (3.28). But what is hardly mentioned: Rapperswil-Jona is also extremely solid defensively. The St. Gallen concede an average of 2.49 goals per game. This is the fourth best value in the league; Freiburg and Davos (each 2.47) are only slightly better in this statistic, the best defensive is Zug (2.25).
In the meantime, the Lakers have already played 4 games in 2022 and have already collected 9 points again. The away win in Davos was followed by Rapperswil-Jona back-to-back victories against the SCL Tigers. The Lakers were not quite as playful as they were a year ago. It is all the more impressive that they still found a way to win the games.
Club record could have fallen on Friday
After 39 games, “Rappi” has 76 points. That’s exactly the same number as in the record season of the Lakers in 2007/08 – back then set up after 50 games, by the way. The club’s own record will therefore fall. From the Lakers’ point of view, preferably on Friday. The task is, however, because Geneva is currently the most difficult team in the National League at Obersee.
The Servettien have won 10 of their last 11 games, the current winning streak is 5 games. In the previous 3 direct duels against Rapperswil-Jona, Geneva had the upper hand twice. The fact that all points went to the home team speaks for the Lakers.
Will there be a Nyffeler goalie duel?
The game on Friday should be a special affair for the Nyffeler family. While Melvin Nyffeler is likely to be the Lakers goalkeeper, Dominic Nyffeler could be between the posts at Geneva-Servette.
The brother of the “Rappi” goalie, who is two years older, has been on loan from Swiss League leader Kloten to the Romands since mid-December and shares the job with Connor Hughes in Geneva. It is also quite possible that on Friday there will not only be a duel between the surprise team of the season and the team of the hour, but also a duel between Nyffeler and Nyffeler.