Switzerland round-up: Basel seal Swiss title

Hervé Tum scored twice in two minutes to settle FC Basel's nerves as they clinched the Swiss league title for the ninth time in total and the first time in 22 years with a 3-0 win at BSC Young Boys.

Koumantarakis clincher
Cameroonian forward Tum netted in the eleventh and 13th minutes before George Koumantarakis secured the win, the title and a UEFA Champions League qualifying round berth with a 58th-minute strike. Basel's victory also means they have become the first team to wrap up the Swiss championship in April since a new league format was introduced in 1986 aimed at producing closer finishes.

Triumph for Gross
Basel, coached by Christian Gross, who had a brief spell in charge of English side Tottenham Hotspur FC from 1997-98, finished the winter section well clear of their rivals. Six consecutive wins since have given them an unassailable 13-point lead over second-placed FC Lugano with three games left.

Double challenge
The season began in humiliating fashion for Basel when they lost their opening game 8-1 at FC Sion, who are now bottom of the division. The next challenge for Gross is to complete a league and cup double as they face his former club Grasshopper-Club in the Swiss Cup final on 12 May. No club has won the Swiss double since 1967.

Servette come from behind
Elsewhere, Servette FC scored three second-half goals as they came from behind to beat FC St. Gallen 3-1. Daniel Imhof put the home side ahead after just four minutes but Alexander Frei, Johann Lonfat and Pinto netted after the break to hand Servette the points.

Division to be slimmed down
Nationaliga A will be slimmed down from 16 to ten teams next season with clubs playing each other four times over the course of a 36-game campaign.