The Challenge League resumes this weekend. After a break of more than a month, FC Sion travel to Wil on Friday evening for matchday 19. Leaders in the standings, the Valais outfit will kick off their 2024 campaign at 7.30pm on St. Gallen soil. 

The background

Back in training on 4 January, the Sédunois played three warm-up matches, against YB (4-3 defeat), Badalona (3-2 win) and Annecy (1-0 defeat). The Valais squad also enjoyed a week's training camp in the Girona region of Catalonia.

FC Sion are level on 37 points with FC Thun at the top of the Challenge League table. Didier Tholot's men are coming off a 2-1 victory over FC Schaffhausen in mid-December. That win ended a run of four consecutive draws, but also gave the Valais outfit a tenth game without defeat!

The opposition

Fifth-placed FC Wil have 23 points to their name. The St. Gallen outfit are just one point behind third-placed FC Stade Nyonnais. During the winter break, the team coached by Brunello Iacopetta played three friendly matches against GC (5-0 defeat), YB (1-0 defeat) and Dornbirn (4-0 victory). FC Wil have not lost since 27 October 2023, and are on a winning run against... Stade Nyonnais.

In the last meeting between Valais and St. Gallen, the Red and Whites won 3-0 in Tourbillon.

The stakes

With a win, FC Sion could temporarily move three points clear of FC Thun, who take on Bellinzona in Ticino on Sunday. Opposite them, FC Wil will be looking to stay in touch with the podium and distance themselves from the bottom half of a very evenly-balanced table.

The news

Numa Lavanchy of Sédun is threatened with suspension if he is cautioned. The same goes for St. Gallen's Martic, Brahimi, Ndau and Staubli. 

The match will be broadcast live on Blue Sports and Rhône FM.

The fixtures

VE 26.01.2024 FC Wil - FC Sion 19:30
VE 26.01.2024 FC Aarau - FC Vaduz 19:30
VE 26.01.2024 FC Stade Nyonnais - FC Schaffhausen 19:30
VE 26.01.2024 Neuchâtel Xamax - FC Baden 20:15
SA 27.01.2024 AC Bellinzona - FC Thun 18:00