On Sunday 26 October at 4.30 pm, FC Lugano will take to the pitch at the Stade de Genève to face Servette FC on matchday 10 of the Brack Super League. It is always a fascinating fixture, coming at a very different stage for the two sides: the Granata, second from bottom and coming off a difficult start to the season, are looking to bounce back after just two wins so far, whilst the Bianconeri aim to continue their positive run of four consecutive positive results.
After finishing second last season, Servette are going through a period of transition. A situation which, as Mattia Croci-Torti pointed out at the press conference, ‘has brought some inevitable difficulties, but they remain a strong side, built with the same objectives as Lugano, namely Europe’. The Bianconeri coach did, however, highlight how the Stade de Genève is “a tricky ground, where you need to have the courage to play and stay in the game at all times”.
CONTINUITY AND AWARENESS
FC Lugano go into the match with confidence and conviction. After a difficult start to the season, the team has regained its rhythm, intensity and cohesion. “We’re going through a good spell and we want to do everything we can to keep it going,” said Croci-Torti. “Playing just once a week has allowed us to regain our fitness and intensity: the team runs until the 90th minute, staying sharp and focused, unlike at the start of the season, when the many closely spaced matches had robbed us of our spark in the final minutes.”
From a tactical perspective, the Bianconeri manager praised the team’s renewed defensive solidity and the progress of several individuals, such as Dos Santos, who has scored two goals and provided two assists in the last four matches: “He’s always been a selfless player, but now he’s making his mark on the scoresheet and that makes all the difference. We’re pleased to see him more decisive and aware of his own abilities.”
A TEST TO MEASURE AMBITIONS
The match in Geneva represents a significant test to confirm the Club’s ambitions. “It’s a match that must justify our ambitions,” the manager reiterated. “Putting in a strong performance on Sunday would send a powerful signal, including in terms of character. “I want to see a team that isn’t content after three wins and doesn’t think it can afford to go to Geneva at 99% concentration: we need to be at 100%, otherwise we risk falling back into the difficulties we’ve only just emerged from.”
After three consecutive league wins, FC Lugano are looking to build on their current run of form, even on a pitch that has never brought them luck in recent years. Last season, in fact, Servette won all three head-to-head encounters, and the Bianconeri now want to reverse that trend by continuing the progress shown in recent weeks.
Kendouci is training with the team without restrictions and aims to be available to Croci-Torti soon. Meanwhile, Steffen continues his individual training, following his rehabilitation programme. During his recovery, however, Bottani has suffered a flare-up of his sports hernia and, following a surgical assessment, will undergo an operation.