Kreuzlingen vs Grasshoppers

The Grasshoppers, playing their first pre-season friendly of the summer under head coach Peter Zeidler, dominated from the outset. Despite the intense heat — temperatures climbed above 35°C in Kreuzlingen on the shores of Lake Constance — GCZ maintained a high tempo throughout.

The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute. After a well-worked combination through the Kreuzlingen penalty area, T. Bloxham slotted home from close range to register the first goal of the Grasshoppers' pre-season campaign (provider match data; GCZ match report, 27 June 2026).

Kreuzlingen, who compete in the Swiss Promotion League (third tier), offered resistance but created few clear chances against a disciplined GCZ backline. The hosts went into the break just 1-0 down but having absorbed significant pressure, with Abrashi, Bachir and Krasniqi all unable to convert further opportunities for the visitors.

Zeidler changed all 11 outfield players at half-time, introducing a completely fresh XI. Among those entering the fray were Kabashi, Creti, Stroscio, Ullmann, Giandomenico, Fiechter, Papic, Sahin, Bengondo, Paloschi and Avdullahu (GCZ match report, 27 June 2026).

The second-string lineup needed just five minutes to double the lead. Lirim Kabashi collected the ball at the edge of the box and unleashed a stunning strike into the corner — 2-0 in the 50th minute.

Kabashi struck again just past the hour mark, producing another long-range effort that left the Kreuzlingen goalkeeper with no chance (61'). His second goal, a mirror of the first in its quality, effectively ended the contest.

Demis Fiechter, who made his Super League debut for GCZ late in the 2025/26 season, rounded off the scoring in the 88th minute with a composed finish to make it 4-0.

Kabashi's first goal five minutes into the second half extinguished any hope Kreuzlingen may have harboured of mounting a comeback. The quick strike, coming immediately after Zeidler's wholesale half-time changes, demonstrated the depth of quality in the GCZ squad and shifted the dynamic from a narrow lead to a comfortable margin inside 50 minutes.

Lirim Kabashi (Grasshoppers) — Player of the match. Two long-range finishes of the highest quality, both from outside the box, showcased his shooting ability. The midfielder was a threat every time he received the ball in the final third and comfortably the standout performer.

T. Bloxham (Grasshoppers) — Opened the scoring with a well-taken finish in the 22nd minute. His movement and link-up play caused problems for the Kreuzlingen defence throughout the first half.

Demis Fiechter (Grasshoppers) — Capped a promising display with a late goal. The teenager looked sharp and confident in the second half after his introduction at the interval.

The match data records four goals for the Grasshoppers across the 90 minutes. The 0-1 half-time scoreline undersold GCZ's first-half dominance: Bloxham hit the opener, and further chances fell to Abrashi, Bachir and Krasniqi before the break. Kabashi's two strikes both came from distance, reflecting GCZ's willingness to test the goalkeeper against a deep-lying Kreuzlingen defence. The home side struggled to create any significant opportunities of their own across the full match (provider match data; GCZ match report).

This was the first of five pre-season friendlies scheduled for GC Zürich ahead of the 2026/27 Super League season. The match also served as the finale of the GCZ-Sommertour, a week-long series of fan events across the Zurich region that included stops in Regensdorf and Urdorf (GCZ pre-season schedule, June 2026).

After the game, the Grasshoppers squad stayed to sign autographs and pose for photos with young fans in attendance (GCZ Instagram, 27 June 2026).

The Grasshoppers face SC Cham (Promotion League) on Wednesday 1 July at the Stadion Eizmoos (18:30 CEST), followed by fixtures against FC Wil (4 July), Panathinaikos FC in Athens (11 July) and SCR Altach (18 July).

For FC Kreuzlingen, the friendly was valuable preparation for their Promotion League campaign against a top-flight opponent.

A professional, polished start to pre-season from GC Zürich. The 4-0 scoreline was emphatic but not flattering — the Grasshoppers controlled every phase and created quality chances throughout. Kabashi's two long-range strikes were the standout moments, while Zeidler's ability to field two entirely different XIs without any drop-off in quality bodes well for the season ahead.