When EVZ and Kloten faced each other last year, the coaches were Michel Liniger and Lauri Marjamäki. This will also be the case this Sunday, albeit with the roles reversed. Kloten defender Dominik Schlumpf (660 appearances for EVZ) will also be facing his former club. Bernd Wolf, meanwhile, is heading in the opposite direction, having had his transfer to Zug announced for next season.

Despite all these similarities, it must not be forgotten that a win would be of great importance to both teams. Whilst the Zurich Unterland side are languishing at the bottom of the table, EVZ are looking to get back to winning ways following their avoidable defeat in Geneva

A win in Lausanne, a win in Davos, a defeat in Lugano, a defeat in Langnau, a win in Rapperswil, a defeat in Geneva. Looking at the EVZ’s results from their six-match tour across Switzerland, one thing in particular is missing: consistency. After a thoroughly convincing performance against Rapperswil, Lauri Marjamäki’s side failed to pick up further points against a tired opponent in Geneva on Sunday. After Gregory Hofmann’s equaliser to make it 1–1, the momentum was with the blue and whites, but it was at that very moment that the Geneva side scored the winning goal.

Their defensive solidity remains striking. In five matches, EVZ have conceded just fourteen goals – the best record in the league. Before the long-awaited return to the OYM Hall in two weeks’ time, there are two more away matches to come. Next Saturday (17 October) against Ajoie and, as mentioned at the start, this Sunday in Kloten. For this match, which carries special significance, the EVZ will still be without the injured Lino Martschini, Mike Künzle and Chris Egli; a decision on their possible return to action will be made on a week-by-week basis.

Things are currently anything but smooth sailing for EHC Kloten. After nine matches, the team from the airport town sit at the bottom of the table with six points. Most recently, Head Coach Michael Liniger’s side suffered three consecutive defeats: 0–4 in Geneva, 1–4 at home against Fribourg and 2–6 away to the SCL Tigers. With 18 goals scored and 36 conceded, Kloten also has the worst goal difference in the league.

One reason for these disappointing figures is undoubtedly the injury crisis. With Brandon Gignac, Simon Meier, Pontus Aberg, Joel Henry and Michael Hügli out, Kloten are without no fewer than five key players in attack.

Last season, EVZ emerged victorious in three out of four matches against the five-time Swiss champions. Particularly memorable is the 5–4 victory in January, in which Zug scored three goals within 10 minutes in the final period to turn the match in their favour.