Seething barrages
Promotion or relegation, staying in a league or disappointment: it's all or nothing in the Swiss Football League's barrages. Prior to the big matches between Lucerne and Schaffhausen, we take a look back at past thrillers.
Mister Barrage
A barrage match is an exceptional experience for any footballer. Except for Manuel Garrido Rivera. The Peruvian-born player competed in 12 (!) such matches between 2003 and 2011 for AC Bellinzona and FC Vaduz. He experienced everything: non-promotion, non-relegation, promotion, relegation. A particular highlight for the midfielder has been the duel with FC St.Gallen in 2008: Challenge League side Bellinzona won both games and sent the Espen into misery. "The images of that barrage still move me when I see them," Rivera said recently. And he watches them often: he regularly showed the return match from back then on a big screen in the Bar Granata near the Bellinzona stadium, which he has been managing since his retirement. "Bar Rage" might have been a more appropriate name for this particular tenant. By the way: AC Bellinzona will play in dieci Challenge League again next season and thus has the chance to extend its record as a barrage participant (4 times so far).
President as bodyguard
The Super-GAU was looming. The last game in the Allmend, which had been cleared for demolition, was coming up, and FC Luzern had to recover from a 0:1 defeat in the opener of the barrage in Lugano in June 2009. Michel Renggli's opening goal brought initial redemption, but then a petard exploded from the fan block next to the linesman's ear. Referee Zimmermann threatens to stop the game if his assistant's ringing in the ears does not subside. Lucerne coach Rolf Fringer, who is also a medical expert, hands the sufferer a piece of chewing gum, and the trick helps. President Walter Stierli, wearing sunglasses, stands in front of the crowd, asks for a megaphone and announces: «We don't want to kill the team's game!» Stierli immediately explains what happens next: «We don't want to lose forfeit. Now I'll stand here for the entire game. And I'd better not catch anyone!» That, too, is of use. Stierli exchanges his megaphone for a beer and his team defeats Lugano 5:0 to stay in the Super League. The fans tear up the Allmend in search of souvenirs. Stierli later reveals his trick: «I looked deep into the eyes of those who were looking the most fearful. From then on there was silence.»
Porsche for Promotion
In 2011, AC Bellinzona faces a fallen great: Servette, 17-time Swiss champions, have fought their way back after going bankrupt and falling into the first division. President and investor is now the controversial Iranian Majid Pishyar. He had previously led football clubs in Austria and Portugal into bankruptcy, but in Geneva all warnings were dismissed. With a 3:1 victory in front of more than 23,000 spectators at the Stade de Genève, the Grenats returned to the Super League after a six-year absence. And Pishyar cheered into the camera: «We did, we did! I'm happy. I was sure. Nobody believed me, but I was sure! I was sure! We did! It was great! They went to Super League. Nobody believed me. I diiid! Thank you, thank you, thank you. We go to be champion in Switzerland! I promise!» In all his generosity, he also promised each player a Porsche. The heroes of that time are still waiting for it today, because Pishyar preferred to run the club into the ground. In the following season, Servette had to file for bankruptcy and was forced to be relegated once again.
Absolute madness
Xamax are considered to be favourites in their 2019 duel with Challenge League representatives Aarau. And then they experience a shock at home: the match ends with a 4-0 defeat and relegation seems to be sealed. But at Brügglifeld, one of the greatest comebacks that Swiss football has ever seen took place. At half-time, Xamax had already made up three goals, and in the 72nd minute Geoffrey Tréand - an ex-Aarau player, of all people - equalised. In penalty shootout, all Xamaxiens score, the last FCA shooter misses. The promotion jerseys are taken back and later given away to employees with the additional print «Aufstehen und weitererkämpfen» (Get up and fight on).
