GC – FCZ: The duel in the live ticker

Published today at 5:45 p.m

Tobers wrestles Perea to the ground in the generic half of the court in wrestling style. Because he unbalances the Colombian with a slight push when he gets up, the Latvian sees the yellow box. So after almost 20 minutes of play, both GC central defenders have already been warned.

The FCZ again with a dangerous action. Perea puts a cross into the GC penalty area ready for Marchesano – but he misses it. But it doesn’t matter, the linesman indicates that Perea was offside.

Now the FCZ also has a good opportunity! Perea tests Hammel with an outside-the-foot shot from around 15 meters. But Hammel makes a strong save, just like he did with Kryezius’ header immediately before this action!

Here’s the first chance of the game! Morandi’s free kick is extended by Lupi and then deflected by an FCZ defender. But Brecher is there and directs the ball past the goal with a beautiful flying parade. The subsequent corner did not pose any danger.

Kransniqi hits starting debutant Lupi with his hand in the face. No intention, no big deal. There is a free kick for GC a few meters in front of the center line.

The subsequent free kick from Chouiar does not cause any danger, but Tobers collides with the massive Katic in the header duel. The Latvian remains dazed at first, but after he cools down for a bit he’ll be able to move on.

Saulo Decarli holds Perea back. Referee Schärer doesn’t hesitate and shows the GC central defender the yellow card.

The ball is rolling, the 286th Zurich Derby is starting!

It’s starting soon in Letzigrund! Referee Sandro Schärer will kick off the game shortly.

FCZ coach Ricardo Moniz has almost everything he can do with his line-up. The Dutchman relies on Bledian Krasniqi in the center today. Ifeany Mathew has to take his place on the bench. On the right wing, Lindrit Kamberi takes over the job of the injured Samuel Ballet.

GC coach Marco Schällibaum has to do without his regulars Ndenge and Choinière against FCZ. As usual, Justin Hammel is in goal for the Grasshoppers, the defensive back four is made up of Benno Schmitz, Saulo Decarli, Kristers Tober and YB loanee Noah Persson. Instead of Ndenge, Ayumu Seko plays in central midfield alongside captain Amir Abrashi. And on offense, Sonny Kittel, the in-form Giotto Morandi as well as Tomas Veron Lupi and striker Young-Jun Lee should provide the goals.

Before the derby against GC, Ancillo Canepa explains who his favorite for the championship title is, how he sees the team’s change and what he thinks of the style of his coach Ricardo Moniz. Read the entire interview with the FCZ president here.

The FCZ is in second place in the table after nine match days – and yet it has a problem: it doesn’t shoot enough on goal. Five attempts on the opposing goal are the meager return from the last three games. The Zurich offensive, which worked so well at the beginning of the season, has massively lost its goal threat.

Can FC Zurich overcome its obstacles in the derby of all places? There is a glimmer of hope from Zurich’s perspective: With Juan José Perea, the FCZ at least has the most accurate striker in the league in its ranks (5 goals).

The Grasshoppers’ upward trend was suddenly halted in the canton derby immediately before the international break: after two competitive game wins in a row GC lost 0-1 against FC Winterthur on the Schützenwiese.

The Grasshoppers are still in 8th place in the Super League table, but their lead over bottom-placed YB is only a measly two points. A victory in the derby would be much more than just balm for the mood for GC.

… and welcome to the live ticker of the game between the Grasshoppers and FC Zurich! I am pleased that you are following the 286th Zurich Derby with us.