On Sunday 9 November at 2pm, FC Lugano will take to the pitch at St. Jakob-Park to face FC Basel in the 13th round of the Brack Super League. It is a special match, coming on the eve of the last international break of the year.
The Bianconeri come into the match after the postponement of their game against St. Gallen, which was suspended last Sunday (with the score at 1-0) due to bad weather and rescheduled for Wednesday 26 November. Basel, meanwhile, drew 0-0 with Young Boys in their last league match before winning 3-1 against Steaua Bucharest at St. Jakob-Park in the Europa League on Thursday evening.
THREE MONTHS AFTER THAT 3-1
The previous meeting this season ended in favour of the Bianconeri, who won 3-1 at Cornaredo against the reigning Swiss champions on 10 August, regaining confidence and momentum after a difficult start to the season.
Since then, the two teams have gone their separate ways: FC Basel are currently in second place, while FC Lugano are seventh, six points behind but with a game in hand. The Bianconeri are aiming to reduce this gap before the break in order to stay in touch with the leading group.
CROCI TORTI: "PROVE WE ARE UP TO THE TASK"
On the eve of the match, Bianconeri coach Mattia Croci Torti emphasised the importance of the challenge and the team's desire to improve their away form: "We are definitely looking forward to winning away from home again. So far, we haven't picked up many points away from Cornaredo, and if we want to climb the table, we need to prove ourselves in difficult matches like the one in Basel. It will be an important test for us."
Speaking about Basel's European commitments, the coach added: "I don't think Basel will be tired. Against Steaua, they managed the game, were always in control and proved themselves to be a real team. They have a deep squad, with many interchangeable, quality players: compared to Young Boys or Lausanne, they have more options and fewer injuries."
"SHAQIRI IS A UNIQUE PLAYER, BUT WE HAVE TO LIMIT HIS SPACE"
Among the topics discussed at the press conference was Xherdan Shaqiri, Basel's technical reference point: "Shaqiri is a player who is above average in the league in terms of vision and quality. We have never prepared for matches by studying a single opponent, but against him it is important to defend high up the pitch and stay compact so as not to give him space. His moves are always precise and lethal if he has time to look up. To limit him, we will have to be good at working as a team, not individually."
MAI: "A UNITED TEAM MAKES THE DIFFERENCE" German defender
Lukas Mai also spoke at the press conference, sharing the team's philosophy of unity: "Football is a team sport. If we put in a solid collective performance, even a player like Shaqiri will struggle. No one has ever dominated us: it always depends on us and how focused we are from the first minute."
The centre-back, born in 2000 and now a pillar of the Bianconeri defence, also spoke about his own growth, between maturity and ambition: "I gained experience as a young player in the Bundesliga, but the move to Switzerland has done me a lot of good. Here I have found the stability I needed to grow as a footballer and as a person. I've built a family and I feel I'm in the ideal environment to continue improving. Of course, I'd also like to make more of an impact in attack: I've come close several times, but the goal hasn't come yet. I'm working on it and I'm convinced that the right moment will come soon."
GOOD NEWS FROM THE INJURY LIST The recovery of the
Bianconeri players currently sidelined continues to show encouraging signs. Renato Steffen and Ezgjan Alioski both underwent check-ups during the week, which confirmed positive developments, and they are continuing their respective rehabilitation programmes. Mattia Bottani has also resumed his recovery programme after surgery, while David von Ballmoos has begun his rehabilitation phase, combining physiotherapy and individual work in the gym.
TRAVEL TO BASEL IN A MORE ECO-FRIENDLY WAY
For the trip to St. Jakob-Park, Bianconeri fans can take advantage of the brand new national carpooling platform. This initiative allows fans to share their journey with other supporters, reduce emissions and enjoy the build-up to the match in good company.