Estonian international defender Maksim Paskotši played a full 90 minutes in Grasshoppers’ do-or-die victory over St. Gallen, as the Zürich-based club secured a vital 2–0 win in the final round of the Swiss Super League to avoid direct relegation and clinch a spot in the relegation play-offs.
The Swiss top division features 12 teams, with the bottom club relegated automatically, the 11th-placed side heading to a relegation play-off, and 10th place earning safety. Heading into the final round, the bottom three — Winterthur (40 points), Grasshoppers (39), and Yverdon (39) — were separated by just one point, with their fate hanging in the balance.
All three teams had home advantage in their final fixtures: Winterthur hosted 9th-place Sion, Grasshoppers faced 8th-place St. Gallen, and Yverdon welcomed 7th-place Zürich. In a dramatic twist, all three relegation-threatened teams won, meaning the standings remained unchanged.
Grasshoppers got the job done with a commanding 2–0 win. Nikolas Muci opened the scoring in the first half, while Young-Jun Lee sealed the result with a second-half goal. It was a notable match for Paskotši, who returned to the starting XI after a month-long absence and completed the full match.
Despite the win, Grasshoppers finished the season in 11th place, narrowly missing direct survival by one point behind Winterthur, and edging out Yverdon on goal difference — both clubs finished level on points.
Now, Grasshoppers will turn their focus to the promotion/relegation play-off, where they’ll face Aarau, the side that finished second in the Swiss Challenge League. With top-flight status on the line, the pressure is on — but for Paskotši and Grasshoppers, the fight for survival continues.
The 22-year-old Estonian, now in his second season with the Swiss club, made 25 league appearances this campaign, scoring once.
