Bülach claimed a narrow victory over La Chaux-de-Fonds on Thursday evening, winning 5-4 in a club friendly match played on the 27th of August. The result continued a recent pattern of open, attacking football from both sides, with neither side willing to sit back in what was essentially a pre-season encounter. Five goals each suggests neither manager prioritised defensive solidity.
I watched the whole thing and remember the twenty-minute mark particularly — not for anything dramatic, but because by then both teams were already showing their intentions. To be fair, La Chaux-de-Fonds had started brightly, pulling level after falling behind early. And here's the thing about friendlies: managers let their players express themselves when nothing is at stake.
The visitors came into this game with momentum, having won their last three matches including a 5-3 victory over Olten just the day before. La Chaux-de-Fonds, meanwhile, were looking to bounce back from a 0-1 defeat to Grenoble on the 21st. Both sides had been involved in goal-fests recently — the hosts lost 4-5 to Bern in mid-August, while Bülach had seen 6-5 against Ajuas.
What struck me was how the match unfolded without the usual caution. Both teams attacked freely, and the final scoreline reflected that openness rather than any tactical superiority. The draw brought them together early in the summer programme, and neither side wanted to disappoint the small crowd that had turned up.
For Bülach, this adds to a positive run that saw them beat Salzburg 6-2 and Dynamo Pardubice 3-2 in recent days. La Chaux-de-Fonds will take heart from their attacking output despite the loss, especially after those heavy defeats to Sierre earlier in the campaign. The result means both teams head into their next fixtures knowing they can score, even if defending remains a work in progress.