Europe South News
Bern Clinch Europe South D1 Title After Commanding Season
Posted by: Newswire, 2026-03-07, 9 Views
Bern have been crowned Europe South Division 1 champions for Season 68, producing the most consistent campaign in the league to finish comfortably clear at the top of the table.
Over the course of 26 matches, Bern compiled an impressive record of 19 wins, 3 losses, and 4 draws, collecting 61 points to secure the title. Their dominance left a sizable gap to the chasing pack, with both Prague and Pristina finishing on 44 points, a full 17 points behind the champions.
A League Race Settled by Consistency
While several clubs competed closely for the positions behind them, Bern’s relentless ability to collect victories ultimately defined the season. Their 19 wins were the most in the division, allowing them to build an early lead that rivals struggled to close.
Behind Bern, the battle for second place proved much tighter. Prague and Pristina ended level on points, while Genoa and Ruse followed closely with 43 points each, ensuring that the race for the top half remained competitive even as Bern pulled away at the summit.
Further down the table, clubs such as Athens and Zagreb finished mid-table with 40 points, while Vienna and Milanrounded out the top half. At the bottom, Florence endured a difficult season, finishing last with 15 points.
Laycock Leads the Champions’ Attack
A key figure in Bern’s title-winning campaign was striker Russ Laycock, whose goals played a decisive role in the club’s success.
Laycock finished the season with 13 goals in 22 appearances, placing him among the league’s leading scorers. His attacking efficiency was central to Bern’s offensive threat, producing 124 shots with 52 on target, and maintaining a strong scoring return across just under 2,000 minutes of play.
Although Athens forward Iskren Velichkov topped the league scoring charts with 22 goals, Laycock’s consistent contributions helped power the champions through crucial moments during the season.
Strength Across the Team
Bern’s success was not built on one player alone. Their ability to combine attacking productivity with reliable performances across the squad allowed them to control matches and accumulate points steadily throughout the campaign.
Even as other clubs showed flashes of quality — such as Davy Callebaut’s 14 goals for Zagreb and Tom Hawkins’ 13 for Genoa — none could match the overall balance Bern maintained from the opening rounds to the final whistle of the season.
