The first game of 2026 gives encouraging indications to FC Lugano, engaged at the Ciutat Esportiva Camilo Cano of La Nucía in the international friendly match against the 1. FC Köln. The game, that ended with a 2-1 defeat, represents an important step in the approach to the Brack Super League, that will see the Bianconeri come back on the field on Saturday the 17th of January against FC Lucerne.
Since the beginning, Lugano approached the game with personality, showing good game lines especially during the first part of the first time. Mattia Croci-Torti's team manages the possession for a long time and tries to command the rhythm, while Cologne relies mainly on the restarts. One of the day's highlights was the first-minute debut of Hannes Delcroix, who arrived a few days ago from Burnley FC and was immediately included in the starting line-up.
At the 28' the German advantage arrived: Cologne built with quality starting from the bottom, the action developed until the right side where Thielmann served a low cross on which Bülter, who beat Saipi and signed the 1-0. The HCL reaction is immediate and passes mainly through Mahou's feet. At the 32nd minute, a splendid triangulation between Kendouci, Duville-Parsemain and Mahou freed Mahou to shoot after Parsemain's back-heel, but the shot from inside the area finished just wide. It was Mahou again who made himself dangerous in the 38th minute when he failed to get his shot on target from Bislimi's low cross. In the final minutes of the first half, the quality of Cologne emerged to a greater extent and they closed the half in control.
In the second half, both teams changed their entire starting eleven. Cologne came back on the field with more intensity and immediately created a danger with a conclusion from the limit that grazed the target. Lugano grew up with the passing minutes and at the 56th minute found the deserved draw: Brault-Guillard brushed a cross on the second post and Behrens' header beat the goalkeeper and re-established the balance.
When the match seemed to be heading towards a draw, Cologne found the advantage again ten minutes from the end. On a long rebound by the goalkeeper, Ache headed the ball forward to Maina, who inserted himself centrally, overtook the outgoing goalkeeper and deposited the final 2-1 goal into the net.
This is the end of the first test of the year for FC Lugano, a positive proof against an adversary of international importance, useful to put minutes in the legs and to gather indications in sight of the official commitments. The work now continues with other training days, before the next friendly game scheduled on Friday the 9th of January against FC Viktoria Plzeň.
SCOREBOARD
FC LUGANO - 1. FC KÖLN 1-2
International friendly
5 January 2026 - Ciutat Esportiva Camilo Cano
Scorers: 28' Bülter, 56' Behrens, 80' Maina.
FC LUGANO (3-4-2-1): Saipi (65' Mina); Zanotti (46' Brault-Guillard), Papadopoulos (46' Kelvin), Delcroix (56' Maslarov); Cimignani (46' Pihlstrom), Bislimi (46' Doumbia), Kendouci (46' Dos Santos), Marques (46' Alioski 80' Parente); Cassano (46' Steffen), Mahou (46' Koutsias); Duville-Parsemain (46' Behrens).
Coach: Mattia Croci-Torti.
1. FC KÖLN (3-5-2): Schwäbe (46' Zieler); Sebulonsen (46' Telle), Martel (46' van den Berg), Heintz (46' Özkacar), Thielmann (46' Maina), Jóhannesson (46' Krauß), Huseinbasic (46' Kainz), Bülter (46' El Mala), Castro-Montes (46' Lund); Kaminski (46' Ache), Schenten (46' Waldschmidt).
Coach: Lukas Kwasniok
Admitted: Mahou (LUG), Thielmann (KOE).