The Zürich derby () is a football match between rivals FC Zürich and Grasshopper Club Zurich. The two teams were founded in Zürich, Switzerland. Grasshopper in 1886 and FC Zürich in 1896. Grasshoppers are historically known as the club of the elite, students and Zürcher upper-class and FCZ are known as the club of the working-class. The derby is unique in Switzerland as it is the only rivalry between two teams from the same city.
The first derby between the two Zurich clubs was held as part of the first Swiss championship, where GC defeated FC Zurich 7–2.
Notable matches 3 March 2004 One of the most notable matches was the semifinal of the 2003–04 Swiss Cup. An early goal by Daniel Gygax and a disgraceful own goal by Reto Ziegler saw FCZ leading 0–2 after only eleven minutes. Mladen Petric managed to bring GC on the board in the 37th minute (2–1), but Gygax brought the half-time score to 1–3 in favor of FC Zurich.- Historisches 6:5 für GC - Als der Hardturm 2004 zum Tollhaus wurde. SRF, 18 February 2018
After the break, Eduardo let GC hopes flare up again in the 57th minute (2–3). These hopes were quickly dashed by Daniel Gygax, who scored his 3rd goal of the match (2–4), and Cesar within two minutes shortly after. Cesar would receive his second yellow of the game due to excessive celebration and was sent off, but with a score of 2–5 in favor of FCZ, the match seemed over nonetheless. However, GC managed to rally, especially around Eduardo, who brought them back to a one-goal difference with two goals, his 2nd and 3rd of the match, in the 83rd (3–5) and 89th minute (4–5), respectively. GC's pressure did not let off and in the 90th minute Petric managed to score a rebound off FCZ goalkeeper Taini to equalize the game (5–5).
Five minutes into extra time, Richard Nuñez managed to bring GC in the lead for the first time of the match with an exceptional lob over goalie Taini. In the 106th minute, referee Urs Meier failed to call an obvious penalty for FCZ and in the following GC managed to win the game with a final score of 6–5 after extra time. GC advanced to the Cup Final, where they lost 2–3 to FC Wil.
7 August 2011 This match of the 2011–12 Swiss Super League went down as FC Zurich's highest derby victory to date. FC Zurich were clearly the better team and quickly took the upper hand. FCZ captain Silvan Aegerter opened the score in the 15th minute. Despite dominating and a long-distance shot by Dusan Djuric that hit the post, the first half ended with a 1–0 lead for FCZ.- Der FCZ deklassiert GC mit 6:0. FC Zürich, 7 August 2011
Four minutes into the second half, Alexandre Alphonse expanded FCZ's lead to 2-0 and few minutes later (54th minute) Raphael Koch shot the 3–0. GC, unable to mount any sort of reaction, conceded three more times: Admir Mehmedi (67), Stjepan Kukuruzović (77), and Adrian Nikci (87) shot the fourth, fifth, and sixth goal for FCZ, respectively. Six different players shot FCZ's six goals of the match. GC's Bruno Bertucci was sent off in the 86th minute after his second yellow card.
2 October 2011: Disgrace of Zurich This Swiss Football League game between FC Zürich and Grasshopper Club Zurich at Letzigrund Stadium saw an incident of football hooliganism. The game had to be abandoned with approximately 15 minutes of regular time to go. Also dubbed the "Disgrace of Zürich" (German: Skandal/Schande von Zürich) by Swiss media, this incident represented a second major episode of hooligan violence in Switzerland within five years, after a hooligan incident of similar significance occurred in Basel in 2006. During the 74th minute of the match, with Grasshopper Club leading 2–1, a masked FC Zürich fan threw a lit flare into the Grasshopper fan sector. No one was seriously injured at this stage. However, the incident incited a violent reaction from the Grasshopper Club Zurich fans. Several dozen masked Grasshopper Club Zurich fans rushed towards the fence separating the two groups and attempted to fight back with flagpoles. The referee was forced to abandon the match due to safety concerns. Six people were injured in the riot that ensued.
29 November 2015 Grasshopper's highest derby victory of the 21st century was in this match and is a near opposite of the one four years prior. In the 15th minute, Munas Dabbur is able to take advantage of a colossal error by FCZ defender Berat Djimsiti and brings GC in the lead. Despite many chances for FCZ and a shot on the bar by GC's Shani Tarashaj, the first half ended 1–0.- Super League - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 – GC demütigt den FCZ . SRF, 29 November 2015
After a slow start to the second half, Djimsiti fails to block GC captain Kim Källstrom's long pass into the box, where Yoric Ravet easily puts it past the goalkeeper (57th minute). Tarashaj scored seven minutes later (64), after a masterful double pass with Ravet, to make the score 3–0. Another seven minutes later (71), Caio leaves two FCZ defenders behind him and slides the ball past goalie Anthony Favre. In the 91st minute, Källstrom caps off the game with the 5–0.
Statistics Records Grasshopper's largest win to date was an 11–2 victory over on 6 December 1942. FC Zurich's largest win was more recent, a 6–0 victory on 7 August 2011.
To date, FC Zurich only once managed to win all matchups in one season, 2014–15: 1–0, 3–1, 2–0, and 4–3 in the league and a 1–0 (a.e.t.) victory in the Swiss Cup. Grasshoppers have won all four matchups in season 1997–98: 2–1, 3–1, 2–0, and 2–1.
League Matches played since 1990
FC Zürich vs Grasshopper Club Zurich Grasshopper Club Zurich vs FC Zürich Season Division Date Venue Score Atten. Date Venue Score Atten.1990–91Nationalliga A06.10.1990Letzigrund25.07.1990Hardturm1991–92Nationalliga A26.10.1991Letzigrund17.08.1991HardturmChampionship Group03.03.1992Letzigrund16.04.1992Hardturm1992–93Nationalliga A11.08.1992Letzigrund31.10.1992Hardturm1993–94Nationalliga A12.12.1993Letzigrund25.09.1993Hardturm1994–95Nationalliga A22.10.1994Letzigrund13.08.1994Hardturm1995–96Nationalliga A02.08.1995Letzigrund22.10.1995Hardturm1996–97Nationalliga A13.10.1996Letzigrund14.07.1996HardturmChampionship Group26.03.1997Letzigrund15.05.1997Hardturm1997–98Nationalliga A20.09.1997Letzigrund07.12.1997HardturmChampionship Group15.03.1998Letzigrund08.05.1998Hardturm1998–99Nationalliga A16.08.1998 Letzigrund08.11.1998LetzigrundChampionship Group13.03.1999Letzigrund24.05.1999Hardturm1999–2000Nationalliga A11.07.1999Letzigrund25.09.1999Hardturm2000–01Nationalliga A18.09.2000Letzigrund25.09.2000HardturmChampionship Group18.03.2001Letzigrund11.05.2001Hardturm2001–02Nationalliga A25.08.2001Letzigrund25.11.2001HardturmChampionship Group25.04.2002Letzigrund09.03.2002Hardturm2002–03Nationalliga A10.07.2002Letzigrund22.09.2002HardturmChampionship Group21.05.2003Letzigrund16.03.2003Hardturm2003–04Super League29.10.2003Letzigrund17.08.2003Hardturm02.05.2004Letzigrund14.03.2004Hardturm2004–05Super League26.09.2004Letzigrund17.07.2004Hardturm10.04.2005Letzigrund17.04.2005Hardturm2005–06Super League24.07.2005Letzigrund02.10.2005Hardturm30.04.2006Letzigrund29.03.2006Hardturm2006–07Super League19.08.2006Hardturm14,50018.11.2006Hardturm17,66624.05.2007Hardturm18,13710.02.2007Hardturm14,9002007–08Super League23.09.2007Letzigrund25,20009.12.2007Letzigrund14,30002.03.2008Letzigrund14,40020.04.2008Letzigrund14,3002008–09Super League09.11.2008Letzigrund18,30010.08.2008Letzigrund15,90029.05.2009Letzigrund22,50008.02.2009Letzigrund12,9492009–10Super League12.09.2009Letzigrund14,80005.12.2009Letzigrund12,20005.04.2010Letzigrund18,20015.05.2011Letzigrund12,2002010–11Super League25.07.2010Letzigrund15,80003.10.2010Letzigrund15,20010.04.2011Letzigrund18,60015.05.2011Letzigrund18,2002011–12Super League07.08.2011Letzigrund16,80002.10.2011Letzigrund12.02.2012Letzigrund6,00020.05.2011Letzigrund11,2002012–13Super League22.09.2012Letzigrund17,35802.12.2012Letzigrund18,40006.04.2013Letzigrund16,11112.05.2013Letzigrund14,7002013–14Super League15.12.2013Letzigrund12,47930.10.2013Letzigrund13,60001.03.2014Letzigrund14,24305.04.2014Letzigrund16,9002014–15Super League20.07.2014Letzigrund13,68319.10.2014Letzigrund19,20029.05.2015Letzigrund11,96721.02.2015Letzigrund9,4002015–16Super League02.08.2015Letzigrund11,15329.11.2015Letzigrund14,00019.04.2016Letzigrund10,21813.03.2016Letzigrund14,4002017–18Super League21.10.2017Letzigrund17,78323.07.2017Letzigrund20,00007.04.2018Letzigrund14,19625.02.2018Letzigrund12,3002018–19Super League02.12.2018Letzigrund14,10128.07.2018Letzigrund16,40008.02.2019Letzigrund11,01305.04.2019Letzigrund12,7002021–22Super League21.08.2021Letzigrund14,89623.10.2021Letzigrund15,70002.04.2022Letzigrund15,32705.02.2022Letzigrund16,1122022–23Super League23.10.2022Letzigrund15,49601.10.2022Letzigrund16,97421.05.2023Letzigrund16,18519.02.2023Letzigrund21,1962023–24Super League26.09.2023Letzigrund17,65328.01.2024Letzigrund19,32610.02.2024Letzigrund18,523—2024–25Super League30.11.2024Letzigrund18,57319.10.2024Letzigrund19,22310.05.2025Letzigrund17,79730.03.2025Letzigrund21,4972025–26Super League29.11.2025Letzigrund17,18104.10.2025Letzigrund17,32909.05.2026Letzigrund18,04021.02.2026Letzigrund14,372
Cup Meetings (since 1990) Competition Round Date Home team Result Away team1993–94 Swiss CupSemi-finals4 April 1994FC ZürichGrasshopper2003–04 Swiss CupSemi-finals3 March 2004 Grasshopper(a.e.t)FC Zürich2012–13 Swiss CupSemi-finals17 April 2013 FC Zürich(a.e.t)Grasshopper2014–15 Swiss CupQuarter-finals4 March 2015 FC Zürich(a.e.t)Grasshopper2017–18 Swiss CupSemi-finals28 February 2018 FC ZürichGrasshopper2024–25 Swiss CupRound of 163 December 2024GrasshopperFC Zürich
Fan Misbehavior In the past years, hooliganism has become a big issue for Swiss football. Incidents such as the Disgrace of Basel in 2006 were becoming more common. The Zurich derby is not immune to this phenomenon: In a match on 2 October 2011, the situation hit an all-time low. GC Fans had stolen a banner of FCZ fanclub "Boys" and later displayed the defaced flag during the match as provocation. As a result, FCZ fans snuck into the GC fan sector and threw flares at GC fans. In the 70th minute, at a score of 2–1 for Grasshoppers, referee Sasha Kever put a stop to the match when he saw rioting fans cross the barriers and enter the pitch. Dozens were arrested and 6 were injured in the riots. This day was known in Switzerland as "Die Schande von Zürich" (translated "The Disgrace or Zurich"). In the aftermath, Grasshopper were awarded a 3–0 victory.02.10.2011: «Alles Gueti zu 15 Jahr Boys» – wegen dieser Provokation wirft ein FCZ-Fan Fackeln in den GC-Fansektor und sorgt für einen Spielabbruch. watson.ch, 2 October 2015
On 23 October 2021, after a 3–3 result, FCZ fans threw fireworks into the GC fan sector. Both teams were fined 20,000 Swiss francs, as GC were the home team and responsible for security. Furthermore, FCZ fan sectors are closed for their next two home games.- So büsst die Liga den FCZ – und auch GC. Blick, 26 November 2021
FCZ fans also disrupted a celebration by GC fans outside Letzigrund following GC's Challenge League victory and promotion, on 20 May 2021. Eleven people were arrested as a result.- Zusammenstösse zwischen GC- und FCZ-Fans - 11 Personen festgenommen. telezueri.ch, 21 May 2021
Honours
FC ZürichCompetitionGrasshopper 13 Swiss Super League 27 10 Swiss Cup 19 1 Swiss League Cup (defunct) 2 0 Swiss Super Cup (defunct) 1 23 Total 49
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References