# 1997–98 in Swiss football

The following is a summary of the 1997–98 season of competitive football in Switzerland.

## Nationalliga A
### Qualification phase

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Grasshopper Club | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 59 | 23 | +36 | 46 | Advance to championship round halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 2 | Lausanne-Sport | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 45 | 27 | +18 | 42 | Advance to championship round halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 3 | Servette | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 45 | 33 | +12 | 39 | Advance to championship round halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 4 | Aarau | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 38 | 31 | +7 | 35 | Advance to championship round halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 5 | St. Gallen | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 38 | 34 | +4 | 30 | Advance to championship round halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 6 | Zürich | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 31 | 28 | +3 | 30 | Advance to championship round halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 7 | Sion | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 30 | 27 | +3 | 30 | Advance to championship round halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 8 | Luzern | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 26 | 28 | −2 | 29 | Advance to championship round halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 9 | Xamax | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 37 | 39 | −2 | 26 | Continue to promotion/relegation round |
| 10 | Kriens | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 41 | −18 | 22 | Continue to promotion/relegation round |
| 11 | Basel | 22 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 28 | 46 | −18 | 19 | Continue to promotion/relegation round |
| 12 | Étoile Carouge | 22 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 63 | −43 | 9 | Continue to promotion/relegation round |

### Championship round

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Grasshopper Club (C) | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 39 | 16 | +23 | 23 | 57 | Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Servette | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 18 | 15 | +3 | 20 | 41 | Qualification to UEFA Cup second qualifying round |
| 3 | Lausanne-Sport | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 21 | 40 | Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup qualifying round |
| 4 | Zürich | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 17 | +10 | 15 | 38 | Qualification to UEFA Cup second qualifying round |
| 5 | Sion | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 15 | 37 | Qualification to Intertoto Cup first round |
| 6 | St. Gallen | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 17 | −5 | 15 | 32 | Qualification to Intertoto Cup first round |
| 7 | Aarau | 14 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 27 | −14 | 18 | 25 | |
| 8 | Luzern | 14 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 29 | −19 | 15 | 23 | |

## Nationalliga B
### Qualification phase

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Young Boys | 22 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 48 | 22 | +26 | 42 | Advance to promotion/relegation NLA/LNB round |
| 2 | Lugano | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 44 | 21 | +23 | 40 | Advance to promotion/relegation NLA/LNB round |
| 3 | Baden | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 42 | 31 | +11 | 39 | Advance to promotion/relegation NLA/LNB round |
| 4 | Solothurn | 22 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 31 | 19 | +12 | 37 | Advance to promotion/relegation NLA/LNB round |
| 5 | Delémont | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 47 | 31 | +16 | 36 | Continue to relegation round NLB/1. Liga halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 6 | Locarno | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 46 | 36 | +10 | 34 | Continue to relegation round NLB/1. Liga halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 7 | Wil | 22 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 31 | 26 | +5 | 34 | Continue to relegation round NLB/1. Liga halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 8 | FC Schaffhausen | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 35 | 32 | +3 | 33 | Continue to relegation round NLB/1. Liga halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 9 | Yverdon-Sport | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 37 | 33 | +4 | 30 | Continue to relegation round NLB/1. Liga halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 10 | Winterthur | 22 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 41 | −19 | 16 | Continue to relegation round NLB/1. Liga halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 11 | SV Schaffhausen | 22 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 63 | −51 | 9 | Continue to relegation round NLB/1. Liga halved points (rounded up) as bonus |
| 12 | Thun | 22 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 18 | 58 | −40 | 8 | Continue to relegation round NLB/1. Liga halved points (rounded up) as bonus |

### Promotion/relegation group NLA/NLB

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Xamax | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 35 | 22 | +13 | 26 | Remain in 1998–99 Nationalliga A |
| 2 | Lugano | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 12 | +3 | 23 | Promoted |
| 3 | Basel | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 22 | +5 | 22 | Remain in 1998–99 Nationalliga A |
| 4 | BSC Young Boys | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 23 | −3 | 22 | Promoted |
| 5 | Solothurn | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 15 | +2 | 21 | Remain in 1998–99 Nationalliga B |
| 6 | Kriens | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 25 | −6 | 16 | Relegated |
| 7 | Baden | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 23 | −8 | 12 | Remain in 1998–99 Nationalliga B |
| 8 | Étoile Carouge | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 19 | −6 | 11 | Relegated |

### Relegation group NLB/1. Liga

The last eight teams of the qualification phase competed in the relegation group against relegation to the 1. Liga. The teams took half of the points (rounded up to complete units) gained in the qualification as bonus with them.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Yverdon-Sport | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 33 | 14 | +19 | 15 | 45 | Remain in NLB |
| 2 | Delémont | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 34 | 12 | +22 | 18 | 44 | Remain in NLB |
| 3 | FC Schaffhausen | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 37 | Remain in NLB |
| 4 | Wil | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 17 | 34 | Remain in NLB |
| 5 | Locarno | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 24 | −7 | 17 | 33 | Remain in NLB |
| 6 | Thun | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 4 | 31 | Remain in NLB |
| 7 | Winterthur | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 22 | −5 | 8 | 23 | Relegated to 1. Liga |
| 8 | SV Schaffhausen | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 51 | −40 | 5 | 9 | Relegated to 1. Liga |

## 1. Liga
### Group 1

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Stade Nyonnais | 26 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 78 | 16 | +62 | 66 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | FC Meyrin | 26 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 68 | 30 | +38 | 58 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 3 | CS Chênois | 26 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 68 | 31 | +37 | 56 | |
| 4 | FC Renens | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 54 | 42 | +12 | 44 | |
| 5 | FC Naters | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 39 | 34 | +5 | 39 | |
| 6 | FC Monthey | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 51 | 42 | +9 | 38 | |
| 7 | FC Bex | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 46 | 50 | −4 | 38 | |
| 8 | FC Martigny-Sports | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 41 | 39 | +2 | 35 | |
| 9 | Vevey Sports | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 39 | 41 | −2 | 32 | |
| 10 | FC Echallens | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 32 | 38 | −6 | 32 | |
| 11 | FC Stade Lausanne | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 41 | 55 | −14 | 28 | |
| 12 | Grand-Lancy FC | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 30 | 45 | −15 | 24 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Gland | 26 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 79 | −55 | 11 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Le Mont | 26 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 22 | 91 | −69 | 10 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

### Group 2

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Serrières | 26 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 51 | 23 | +28 | 56 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | FC Münsingen | 26 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 54 | 20 | +34 | 54 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 3 | FC Grenchen | 26 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 43 | 21 | +22 | 52 | |
| 4 | FC Wangen bei Olten | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 41 | |
| 5 | FC Biel-Bienne | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 48 | 43 | +5 | 38 | |
| 6 | FC Fribourg | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 53 | 39 | +14 | 37 | |
| 7 | SC Bümpliz 78] | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 48 | 47 | +1 | 35 | |
| 8 | FC La Chaux-de-Fonds | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 37 | 40 | −3 | 31 | |
| 9 | FC Colombier | 26 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 29 | −7 | 29 | |
| 10 | FC Bulle | 26 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 28 | |
| 11 | FC Köniz | 26 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 33 | 48 | −15 | 27 | |
| 12 | SV Lyss | 26 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 35 | 44 | −9 | 22 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Marly | 26 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 34 | 69 | −35 | 21 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Alle | 26 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 23 | 52 | −29 | 20 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

### Group 3

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Chiasso | 26 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 21 | +17 | 51 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | SV Muttenz | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 49 | 23 | +26 | 49 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 3 | FC Schötz | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 46 | |
| 4 | GC Biaschesi | 26 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 41 | 26 | +15 | 44 | |
| 5 | SC Buochs | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 42 | 30 | +12 | 43 | |
| 6 | FC Concordia Basel | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 40 | 41 | −1 | 41 | |
| 7 | FC Ascona | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 37 | |
| 8 | AC Bellinzona | 26 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 44 | 31 | +13 | 36 | |
| 9 | FC Riehen | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 38 | 44 | −6 | 32 | |
| 10 | FC Sursee | 26 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 41 | 52 | −11 | 31 | |
| 11 | FC Muri | 26 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 54 | −32 | 26 | |
| 12 | SC Dornach | 26 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 35 | 51 | −16 | 25 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Wohlen | 26 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 28 | 45 | −17 | 19 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Hochdorf | 26 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 54 | −32 | 17 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

### Group 4

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Red Star Zürich | 26 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 48 | 29 | +19 | 55 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | FC Gossau | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 56 | 26 | +30 | 50 | Decider for play-off |
| 3 | Zug 94 | 26 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 62 | 33 | +29 | 50 | Decider winners, play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 4 | FC Tuggen | 26 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 46 | 27 | +19 | 50 | |
| 5 | FC Frauenfeld | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 40 | 27 | +13 | 49 | |
| 6 | FC Rapperswil-Jona | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 43 | 29 | +14 | 37 | |
| 7 | SC Young Fellows Juventus | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 31 | 28 | +3 | 37 | |
| 8 | FC Altstetten | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 33 | 35 | −2 | 37 | |
| 9 | FC Vaduz | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 35 | |
| 10 | FC Kreuzlingen | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 38 | 41 | −3 | 35 | |
| 11 | FC Rorschach | 26 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 34 | 39 | −5 | 31 | |
| 12 | FC Freienbach | 26 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 39 | 64 | −25 | 22 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Bülach | 26 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 28 | 57 | −29 | 18 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Schwamendingen | 26 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 20 | 83 | −63 | 5 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

#### Decider

Because the teams from FC Gossau and Zug 94 ended the season level on points they had to play a league positions decider. The match was played on a neutral ground and it took place on 19 May 1998 in Allmend Brunau (Zürich).
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Zug 94 | 3–0 | FC Gossau |
Zug 94 win the decider and advance to play-offs.

### Promotion play-offs
#### Qualification round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Muttenz | 1–1 | Red Star |
| Red Star | 1–5 | Muttenz |
Muttenz win 6–2 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Münsingen | 1–0 | Stade Nyonnais |
| Stade Nyonnais | 2–0 | Münsingen |
Stade Nyonnais win 2–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Zug 94 | 0–0 | Chiasso |
| Chiasso | 2–1 | Zug 94 |
Chiasso win 2–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| FC Meyrin | 2–2 | Serrières |
| Serrières | 2–2 5–3 a.e.t. | FC Meyrin |
Aggregate 4–4. Serrières win in overtime and continue to the finals.

#### Final round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Stade Nyonnais | 3–2 | Muttenz |
| Muttenz | 0–1 | Stade Nyonnais |
Stade Nyonnais win 4–2 on aggregate and are promoted to Nationalliga B.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Serrières | 0–1 | Chiasso |
| Chiasso | 3–0 | Serrières |
Chiasso win 4–0 on aggregate and are promoted to Nationalliga B.

### Relegation play-out
#### First round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Grand-Lancy | 2–1 | SV Lyss |
SV Lyss continue to the final.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Freienbach | 4–1 | Dornach |
Dornach continue to the final.

#### Final round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| SV Lyss | 4–0 | Dornach |
| Dornach | 1–3 | SV Lyss |
SV Lyss win 7–1 on aggregate. Dornach relegated to 2. Liga.

## Swiss Cup

The route of the finalists to the final:
* Round 5: Young Boys-Lausanne-Sport 1–4. Bellinzona-St. Gallen 1–3.
* Round 6: Winterthur-Lausanne-Sport 1–3. Sion-St. Gallen 1–2 a.e.t.
* Quarter-finals: Lausanne-Sport-Xamax 1–1 a.e.t., 4–1 in penalties. Thun-St. Gallen 0–5.
* Semi-finals: Wil-Lausanne-Sport 0–2. St. Gallen-Lugano 2–1.
The winners of the first drawn semi-final is considered as home team in the final.

### Final
## Swiss Clubs in Europe

* Sion as 1996–97 Nationalliga A champions (and 1996–97 Swiss Cup winners): 1997–98 Champions League
* Luzern as finalist in the 1996–97 Swiss Cup: First round of the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
* Xamax as league runners-up: 1997–98 UEFA Cup
* Grasshopper Club as third placed team: 1997–98 UEFA Cup
* Lausanne-Sport: 1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup
* Aarau: 1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup
* Balzers as 1996–97 Liechtenstein Cup winners: qualifying round of the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

### Sion
#### Champions League
##### First qualifying round

Sion won 5–0 on aggregate.

##### Second qualifying round

Galatasaray won 8–2 on aggregate. Sion transfer to UEFA Cup

#### UEFA Cup
##### First round

Spartak Moscow won 6–1 on aggregate.

### Luzern
#### Cup Winners' Cup
##### First round

Slavia Prague won 6–2 on aggregate.

### Xamax
#### UEFA Cup
##### First qualifying round

Neuchâtel Xamax won 10–1 on aggregate.

##### Second qualifying round

Neuchâtel Xamax won 4–2 on aggregate.

##### First round

Internazionale won 4–0 on aggregate.

### Grasshopper Club
#### UEFA Cup
##### First qualifying round

Grasshoppers won 10–1 on aggregate.

##### Second qualifying round

Grasshoppers won 3–2 on aggregate.

##### First round

Croatia Zagreb won 9–4 on aggregate.

### Lausanne-Sport
#### Intertoto Cup
##### Group 3

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Auxerre | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 2 | +17 | 10 | Advanced to semi-finals |
| 2 | Lausanne Sports | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 8 | |
| 3 | Royal Antwerp | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | |
| 4 | Nea Salamis Famagusta | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 19 | −13 | 3 | |
| 5 | Ards | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 14 | −13 | 0 | |

### Aarau
#### Intertoto Cup
##### Group 4

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Köln | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 10 | Advanced to semi-finals |
| 2 | Maccabi Petah Tikva | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 5 | |
| 3 | Standard Liège | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Cork City | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 3 | |
| 5 | Aarau | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 2 | |

### Balzers
#### Cup Winners' Cup
##### Qualifying round

BVSC won 5–1 on aggregate.