On Saturday 14 March at 8.30 pm, FC Lugano will be in action at Kybunpark in St. Gallen in one of the most intriguing fixtures of Matchday 30 in the Brack Super League. The match will pit the league’s second- and third-placed sides against each other: Enrico Maassen’s Biancoverdi, currently on 54 points, and Mattia Croci-Torti’s Bianconeri, third with 49 points. It is a direct clash with crucial points at stake in the race for the top spots.
FC St. Gallen 1879 go into the match brimming with confidence, having secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Basel in front of their home crowd, extending a winning run that has now lasted nine consecutive matches. The Biancoverdi’s last defeat dates back to January against Servette.
Lugano, for their part, are coming off a 3-1 home defeat to Lucerne and have suffered two defeats in their last three league matches. This is precisely why the trip to St. Gallen represents a crucial test for Mattia Croci-Torti’s side, who are aiming to close the gap on second place whilst maintaining their lead over the chasing pack.
St. Gallen have proved to be a tough opponent for the Bianconeri this season. In the two previous encounters in this Super League season, the Bianconeri have suffered two defeats: a 1-0 loss at Kybunpark in September and a 3-1 defeat at Cornaredo in November.
“A VERY TOUGH OPPONENT, BUT WE WANT TO BEAT THEM”
““St. Gallen are a very strong side,” said Mattia Croci-Torti on the eve of the match, “with great solidity and very clear playing dynamics. Right from the start of the season, I’ve always said that, in my opinion, they were the strongest team in the league. Over the last month and a half, they’ve conceded very little defensively: four of the five goals they’ve conceded came from set pieces and only one from open play; this shows just how difficult it is to break them down.”
The Bianconeri coach nevertheless emphasised that the team are heading to St. Gallen with confidence and the determination to play their cards right: “We have great respect for them, but that doesn’t mean we don’t think we can go there and win the match. We’ll try to put them under pressure with our own strengths.”
Among the talking points of the week is the absence of Kevin Behrens, sidelined by a muscle injury. The German striker is the team’s top scorer this season, and his unavailability will force Lugano to adapt their attacking approach. “When you’re missing your top scorer, you inevitably lose something,” explained Croci-Torti, “but we’re confident we have capable alternatives, and whoever plays tomorrow will aim to score goals and put the opposition under pressure.”
For Lugano, the match at kybunpark therefore represents a significant milestone in the final stages of the regular season. “If we want to stay up there, we must be able to beat the teams ahead of us too,” concluded Croci-Torti, “and above all, we must be more dangerous in attack. We need to have a greater desire to score goals and bring more quality to our play, because our aim is to remain in the positions that allow us to play in Europe and give the Club an international dimension.”
The Bianconeri will therefore be looking to return from St. Gallen with a positive result, in a head-to-head clash that could prove crucial in the race for European places.
MEDICAL REPORT
Regarding the injured players, Kevin Behrens has already begun his rehabilitation process following the hamstring injury to his left thigh sustained in the match against Luzern. At the same time, Ezgjan Alioski is continuing his recovery positively after the right calf problem that forced him to stop in recent weeks.
