Bern took three points from their friendly against La Chaux-de-Fonds on Thursday evening, winning 5:4 in a match that had everything except a clean sheet. The result came as a surprise to many, given the visitors' inconsistent run over the past month.
La Chaux-de-Fonds had been struggling for consistency, losing four of their last five matches, three of them against Sierre. By then, questions were being asked about their defensive organisation. They paid for a sloppy opening, allowing Bern to take control early.
The visitors came in with better momentum, having beaten Olten 3:1 just three days earlier. That match against Olten had been the kind of performance they needed to show, and they carried that confidence into Switzerland. Bern kept their heads when La Chaux-de-Fonds pushed back, and it showed.
What you see in the scoreline is a game where chances went both ways. Neither side could hold on for long, and the result reflects a match where both attacks found space. To be fair, La Chaux-de-Fonds had their moments, but they could not convert them at the crucial stage.
Bern's recent record has been uneven. They lost to Rapperswil-Jona Lakers and twice to Bülach, but also picked up wins against Bülach and Olten. This result adds another layer to a campaign that has been unpredictable from the start.
For La Chaux-de-Fonds, the defeat continues a pattern. They have been out-thought on the touchline in recent weeks, and the Sierre results have not helped. The captain dragged them through it, but three goals conceded in a single half is too much to recover from.
The final score of 5:4 tells you all you need to know. Both teams scored freely, but Bern were more clinical when it mattered. The table goes out of the window in these games, but the result still says something about where each side stands.