With a 3-1 victory over Neuchatel Xamax, Servette Geneva have returned to the top of the Swiss football league.

Servette were well tested by Xamax in the first half, with Neuchâtel's Ghanaian forward Alex going close on no less than four occasions.

A devastating nine minute spell in the second half ended all hope for the home side though, with Brazilian midfielder Claiton and Swiss forwards Alex Frei and Alexandre Comisetti giving Servette a rapid 3-0 lead. Alex finally got on the scoresheet with 11 minutes to go but it proved no more than a commiseration goal for Xamax.

Lugano second

The win was Servette's fourth away victory in a row and, together with their superior goal difference, was enough to lift them top ahead of second placed Lugano, who managed to thrash Lucerne 5-0.

After winning six home matches in a row this season, FC Basel slipped off the top of the table into third position following a 2-2 draw at home to St Gallen. Christian Gross's men will have been relieved enough just to grab a single point though, after scoring the last goal of the night five minutes into injury time.

Grasshoppers end Bern's home comfort

Grashoppers Zurich are up to fourth after winning 3-1 away to Young Boys. For the newly-promoted Bernese team, Wednesday's defeat was their first at home since May 2000. They dropped from second to fifth position in the league table.

FC Zurich celebrated their first win since August 4 with a 1-0 win over Lausanne. The Georgian Michail Kawelaschwili scored the goal the team needed for their fifth victory this season

FC Sion managed to take the lead twice against FC Aarau only to see Rolf Fringer's team twice draw level. The 2-2 draw did Aarau more good than Sion, with the single point not enough to lift the canton Valais club above the championship cut-off line.

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