The 2008–09 Swiss Cup was the 84th season of Switzerland's annual cup competition. It began on 20 September with the first games of Round 1 and ended on 20 May 2009 with the Final held at Stade de Suisse, Bern. The winners earned a place in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League. FC Basel were the defending champions.

Participating clubs Nine Super League teams (FC Vaduz are from Liechtenstein and thus play in the 2008–09 Liechtenstein Cup) and all sixteen Challenge League clubs entered this year's competition, as well as thirteen teams from 1. Liga and 26 teams from lower leagues (their level within the Swiss league pyramid is given in parentheses below). Teams from 1. Liga and below had to qualify through separate qualifying rounds within their leagues. 2008–09 Super League9 teams 2008–09 Challenge League16 teams 2008–09 1. Liga13 teams Amateur teams26 teams FC Aarau FC Basel AC Bellinzona Grasshoppers Zürich FC Luzern Neuchâtel Xamax FC Sion BSC Young Boys FC ZürichFC Biel-Bienne FC Concordia Basel FC Gossau FC La Chaux-de-Fonds FC Lausanne-Sport FC Locarno AC Lugano FC St. Gallen FC Schaffhausen Servette FC Genève Stade Nyonnais FC Thun FC Wil FC Winterthur FC Wohlen Yverdon-Sport FCFC Baulmes GC Biaschesi FC Bulle CS Chênois FC Echallens Etoile-Carouge FC FC Grenchen SV Höngg FC Le Mont, Lausanne ES FC Malley, Lausanne FC Kreuzlingen FC Schötz SC Zofingen Fourth level FC Alle FC Bavois FC Bazenheid SC Binningen SC Brühl, St. Gallen FC Grand-Lancy FC Ibach FC Liestal FC Plan-les-Ouates Racing Club, Geneva FC Seefeld, Zürich FC Sursee FC Thalwil Fifth level FC Allmendingen FC Amriswil FC Bassersdorf FC La Sarraz-Eclépens Le Locle Sports FC Oerlikon/Polizei, Zürich FC Plaffeien FC Saxon Sports FC Tavannes/Tramelan FC Wacker Grenchen FC Widnau FC Windisch Sixth level AC Vallemaggia

Round 1 Teams from Super League and Challenge League were seeded in this round. In a match, the home advantage was granted to the team from the lower league, if applicable.

|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC"|19 September 2008

|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC"|20 September 2008

|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC"|21 September 2008

The match between Wacker Grenchen and FC Alle was abandoned after 119 minutes because of violent altercations among players, coaches and spectators. Both teams had originally been expelled from the competition. However, upon a successful appeal, FC Alle were awarded the victory and gained permission to compete in the second round.

Round 2 The winners of Round 1 played in this round. Teams from Super League were seeded. In a match, the home advantage was granted to the team from the lower league, if applicable.

|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC"|17 October 2008

|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC"|18 October 2008

|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC"|19 October 2008

|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC"|29 October 2008

Round 3 The winners of Round 2 played in this round. In a match, the home advantage was granted to the team from the lower league, if applicable. Some games were postponed due to snow, and subsequently played elsewhere.

|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC"|22 November 2008

|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC"|23 November 2008

|colspan="3" style="background-color:#99CCCC"|10 December 2008

The match was played at Stade de la Maladière, Neuchâtel. The match was played at Stade de Suisse, Bern.

Quarter-finals The winners of Round 3 played in this round.

Semi-finals The winners of the quarter-finals played in this round. As in the previous round, matches were openly drawn, meaning that the team drawn first in a match earned the home game.

Final

External links Official site

References