The following is the summary of the Swiss National League in the 1980–81 football season, both Nationalliga A and Nationalliga B. This was the 85th season of top-tier and the 84th season of second-tier football in Switzerland.
Overview The Swiss Football League had 28 members at this time. The clubs were divided into two tiers of 14 teams each. The top tier was named Nationalliga A (NLA) and the second tier was named Nationalliga B (NLB). The format in both divisions was that the teams played a double round-robin to decide their table positions. Each club playing every other club twice (home and away) for a total of 26 rounds. Two points were awarded for a win and one point was awarded for a draw. The Swiss champions would qualify for the 1981–82 European Cup, the runners-up and third placed team would qualify for the 1981–82 UEFA Cup.
There was to be an expansion from 28 to 32 members of the ASF/SFV at the end of this season, with new 16 teams in each division. Therefore, this season would only see one club from the NLA relegated to the second-tier. The top three placed teams in the NLB would be promoted to the top tier. Only one team from the NLB was relegated to next season's 1. Liga. Five teams from this season's 1. Liga would be promoted to make up the numbers.
Nationalliga A The first round of the NLA was played on 23 August 1980. There was a winter break between 6 December and 28 February 1981. The season was completed on 13 June 1981.
Teams, locations Team Town Canton StadiumCapacityFC BaselBasel St. Jakob Stadium AC BellinzonaBellinzonaStadio Comunale Bellinzona CS Chênois Thônex Stade des Trois-Chêne FC ChiassoChiasso Stadio Comunale Riva IV Grasshopper ClubZürich HardturmLausanne-SportsLausannePontaiseFC LuzernLucerneStadion AllmendNeuchâtel XamaxNeuchâtel Stade de la Maladière Nordstern Basel Basel Rankhof FC St. GallenSt. GallenEspenmoosServetteGenevaStade des CharmillesFC SionSionStade de TourbillonYoung BoysBernWankdorf StadiumFC ZürichZürichLetzigrund
Final league table
Results
Attendances
Source:
# Club Average attendance Highest attendance 1 Young Boys 10,838 25,000 2 Luzern 8,146 12,000 3 Zürich 7,292 14,000 4 Basel 6,631 17,500 5 St. Gallen 6,238 11,000 6 GCZ 5,444 17,000 7 Xamax 5,185 10,200 8 Lausanne 4,000 8,500 9 Sion 3,954 10,300 10 Servette 3,738 5,500 11 Bellinzona 3,492 7,000 12 Nordstern Basel 2,654 6,500 13 Chiasso 2,415 9,200 14 Chênois 2,115 5,500
Nationalliga B The first round of the NLB was played on 23 August 1980. There was a winter break between 6 December and 28 February 1981. The season was completed on 13 June 1981.
Teams, locations Team Town Canton Stadium Capacity FC Aarau Aarau Stadion Brügglifeld FC Bern Bern Stadion Neufeld FC Biel-Bienne Biel/Bienne Stadion Gurzelen FC Bulle Bulle Stade de Bouleyres FC Frauenfeld Frauenfeld Kleine Allmend FC Fribourg Fribourg Stade Universitaire FC Grenchen Grenchen Stadium Brühl SC Kriens Kriens Stadion Kleinfeld FC La Chaux-de-Fonds La Chaux-de-Fonds Centre Sportif de la Charrière FC Lugano Lugano Cornaredo Stadium Mendrisiostar Mendrisio Centro Sportivo Comunale Vevey Sports Vevey Stade de Copet FC Wettingen Wettingen Stadion Altenburg FC Winterthur Winterthur Schützenwiese
Final league table </onlyinclude>
Further in Swiss football 1980–81 Swiss Cup 1980–81 Swiss 1. Liga
References
Sources Switzerland 1980–81 at RSSSF