The greatest sensation in Champions League history

By Lulu
August 27 2005

Thun have secured an unlikely place among Europe's football elite by clinching a spot in the group stages of the prestigious Champions League. The minnows from Switzerland beat Swedish champions Malmö FF in the second leg of the decisive qualifying match 3-0.

Thun, a humble club with an annual budget of only 5 million francs (2,4m £), took just over an hour to seal their victory against the Swedish squad. They had already won the first leg match away 1-0.

A successful header by Tiago Bernardi and newly-capped Swiss international Mauro Lustrinelli's solo effort ensured a comfortable 2-0 lead at half-time in Tuesday's return match in Bern. Lustrinelli's lucky lob from 30metres in the 64th minute delighted the local fans and cheering crowds in the sold out 31,243-capacity stadium. Thuns own ridiculous "Lachen" stadium, which would anyhow not be accepted by the uefa for international games, was completely under water like half of switzerland.

The victory means that Thun, runners-up in last year's Swiss championship, have booked their place alongside Europe's heavyweights of football. There have been other small teams in previous years like Heerenveen from the Netherlands and Molde from Norway qualifying for the Champions League, but Thun is a special thing. The "Mountain-club" from the famous "Berner Oberland" played til 1997 in the 3rd swiss division and joined the highest swiss league 3 years ago for the first time. Thun never won any trophy and played last year their first international game (where they eliminated Wolfsburg in the UI cup). Now they could face top teams from England, Germany, Italy and Spain in the six group matches of the Champions League.

The draw will be made at a ceremony on Thursday.

Thun are also guaranteed a SFr7.5 million financial boost by qualifying for the 32 teams remaining in the competition.

The Swiss outsiders knocked out Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev in a previous stage (see story link).


On Wednesday, Swiss champions FC Basel are playing their return match against Germany's Werder Bremen in a bid qualify for the Champions League group stage.

Basel won their first leg at home 2-1. Two years ago they became the first Swiss team to make it to the top 16 European teams.

swissinfo with agencies and Lulu

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