On Sunday 1 November at 4.30 pm, the AIL Arena will host one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures in the Swiss league. On matchday 12 of the Brack Super League, which marks the start of the second round of fixtures between the twelve teams, FC Lugano will host FC Basel in a match pitting two sides against each other who have had very different starts to the season. The bianconeri top the table and, alongside Young Boys, are the only side still unbeaten in the league, whilst the Basel side currently sit in seventh place.
Almost two months on from their 3-1 victory at St. Jakob-Park on 6 September, the two sides meet again in a different setting. FC Lugano go into the match following a particularly busy period, which has also included European fixtures, and are buoyed by a strong run in head-to-head encounters: three wins and a draw last season, as well as victory in the first leg. At the pre-match press conference, however, Mattia Croci-Torti and Yanis Cimignani emphasised the importance of approaching the match with the utmost focus, without being influenced by the league table.
A STRONG OPPONENT
Basel’s position in the table should not be misleading. Croci-Torti expects a reaction from a team which, despite the difficulties of recent weeks, boasts key players and a wealth of experience.
““Basel remain a side with top-class, experienced players, who are certainly not happy with this situation and will want to fight back by any means necessary. When you’re up against the league leaders, the motivation comes naturally,” explained the bianconeri manager.
A respect that goes beyond the statistics and stems from an awareness of the opponent’s historical significance. “For us, securing a positive result against Basel is something we never take for granted. When we see top-class players, such as Shaqiri or Omlin, we have great respect for them. Basel and Young Boys embody the history of Swiss football, and to remain at this level, we must continue to be humble and focus on one match at a time.”
Croci-Torti also highlighted the positive impressions gained from this week’s training sessions, during which he found the squad to be particularly determined and attentive to detail.
IMPROVING DEFENSIVE WORK
A week without official fixtures has allowed the coaching staff to work on certain aspects that emerged in recent matches, with a particular focus on defence. Following the goals conceded in the European matches and the away fixture at Thun, the aim is to regain greater solidity through the contribution of the whole team.
“We’ve worked a lot on our deep defensive block and on sliding tackles. We want to try and defend better, but when we talk about defending, we’re not just referring to the defence, but to the whole team. I think our defenders are doing a great job, even though we’ve made a few mistakes that we’ll try to avoid in the coming matches.”
Attention is also turning to the fixture list, which, following the Basel match, will feature the European clash with Kauno Žalgiris and the subsequent league fixture against St. Gallen. A run of closely spaced fixtures that will require careful management of energy levels, without, however, altering the team’s priorities: “The league remains our number one priority. We want to perform well in all competitions, but we must also set priorities to avoid making mistakes and having regrets. The matches against Basel and St. Gallen are two fixtures to which we are paying close attention,” Croci-Torti reiterated.
CIMIGNANI: VERSATILITY AND CONSISTENCY
Alongside the manager, Yanis Cimignani also spoke; on Sunday, he could reach the milestone of 150 appearances in the black-and-white shirt. The midfielder, who has also been a key player in the Conference League in recent weeks, spoke about his development and his willingness to play in different positions on the pitch: “I know I have the trust of the manager and the team. I do my utmost to help out in whatever position I can play, whether in midfield or out on the wing. I don’t worry about the role; the important thing is to win matches and carry on as we’re doing,” explained the Frenchman.
Croci-Torti echoed these sentiments, identifying the player’s dedication and consistency in his daily work as the main reasons for his development. “His adaptability is a major asset for the team. What has really made the difference over the past year is, above all, the seriousness with which he approaches every training session. He is earning everything he is achieving.”
Cimignani finally reiterated that the squad’s focus is solely on Sunday’s match, without looking ahead to the next European fixture.
The clash with Basel thus marks the start of a new phase in the league campaign, with the bianconeri needing to build on their run of form against an opponent who, regardless of their league position, possess quality and experience. FC Lugano go into this fixture as league leaders, fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead.
