Olten secured a 4-3 victory over Sierre in a club friendly on Thursday, 14 August. The result marked a shift from the recent narrative between the two sides. It served as a preparation game for both squads ahead of the new campaign. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation given the history.
To be fair, the scoreline suggested a tight contest rather than a rout. Olten held their nerve after conceding late in the game, keeping the points despite the open nature of the encounter. It was a performance that required focus until the final whistle.
By then, the visitors had won three straight encounters against the hosts. The previous meetings ended 1-2, 1-5 and 1-3 in Sierre's favour, making this a notable turnaround. Such a run of losses would have weighed heavily on the home fans.
Olten arrived with mixed momentum after a heavy 8-1 win over Winterthur. However, a 1-3 defeat against Bern on Tuesday cast doubt on their defensive stability, and the manager will need answers. The loss to Bern came just days after the high-scoring win with Winterthur. That sequence of results highlighted a team searching for balance.
Sierre, meanwhile, had been ruthless against La Chaux-de-Fonds. They recorded four wins in five games, including a 7-2 victory, showing they were finding their rhythm ahead of the season. One defeat in that stretch against the same opponent suggested they were not invincible.
The final whistle confirmed Olten's improvement in front of goal. The 4-3 scoreline reflected the attacking intent shown by both teams. It was a rare point of pride in a season so far.