SHG Zürich moved a step further towards establishing themselves at the top of the NLA with a 35:29 victory over RTV Basel on Friday evening. The Swiss handball league fixture saw the visitors build on their perfect start to the campaign while the hosts remain winless after three matches.
Zürich had begun the season with two consecutive wins — a 39:33 triumph over Handball Staffa and this result against Basel — accumulating four points from four games. Basel, meanwhile, sat in ninth place with two draws and no victories, having drawn their opening two matches before this defeat.
The visitors' recent form had shown some vulnerability earlier in the season, with losses to Kadetten Schaffhausen on three separate occasions in April. But their most recent outing against Staffa demonstrated improved attacking output, and they carried that momentum into Basel.
By then, Basel's situation was becoming more pressing. They had drawn their first two matches and then suffered a 38:29 loss to Wacker Thun on the previous weekend. The pattern of close games against top opposition — including two defeats to Kryens-Luzern earlier in the year — suggested they lacked the cutting edge when it mattered.
The final scoreline reflected a comfortable performance from Zürich, who worked their channels effectively throughout. Basel's defense struggled to contain the visitors' movement, and the gap opened up as the match progressed.
The result leaves Zürich two points clear at second place, though the standings remain fluid with only three matches played by most teams. Basel remain rooted to the bottom half of the table, searching for their first victory of the season.