The challenge of the Stockhorn Arena confronts FC Thun, first strength of the championship - with only two defeats in the season - and an FC Lugano in one of the most brilliant moments of its recent path. A high league standings game that represents a significant test for both the teams, with the HCL called to win on the leader's field in order to give continuity to their growth and to try to shorten the league standings.
THE MATCH
Lugano approached the game with personality and immediately tried to press high and to dominate the game, finding the first occasion at the eighth minute: Grgić recovered the ball at the limit and kicked just over the crossbar, signing the first ring of the night. Croci-Torti's team, during the whole first period, maintained a high rhythm, pressed high and tried to direct the game in its favour, while Thun - with a favourable position in the league standings - tried to remain compact and to restart at speed.
On the 16th minute the HCL players return to make themselves dangerous on a corner kick: Grgić's tense cross and Behrens' header, blocked by Steffen. The house masters answered on the 35th minute with a personal action of Imeri, who moved to the centre and shot on the first post, finding Saipi's ready answer.
In the final Thun built the biggest chance of the first half. A cross from the right reaches again Imeri, free on the second post: control and shot, but Zanotti intervenes with an excellent defensive closure and deflects in corner. This is the last episode of a balanced first time, in which Thun relies on its solidity and on the restarts, while Lugano tries to keep the control of the possession and to patiently build.
SECOND HALF
The secondtimestarts with an initiative of Lugano: Marques crosses for Behrens in the area and the German's touch forces Steffen to parry. But as the minutes go by, it is Thun that takes the field, raising the pressure and creating several dangerous situations.
At the 52nd minute Rastoder invented a backheel for the insertion of Heule, who found himself in front of Saipi: the HCL goalkeeper came out and covered the goal's mirror, miraculously rejecting the occasion. A few moments later, he was again the one who intervened on Roth from a close distance and then on Imeri's conclusion from outside, keeping the score in balance during the house masters' biggest moment of momentum.
At the 74th minute the game became more complicated for Lugano: Bislimi, thrown in the area after an exchange with Belhadj, tried to anticipate Steffen's coming out but hit him on the face, being expelled. With the extra man Thun increased the pressure and on the 77th minute Dähler tried the left shot from a good position, once more finding Saipi's careful answer.
Despite the numeric difficulty, Lugano remained orderly and, at the 81st minute, tried to show itself with an attempt from outside by Marques. The turning point, however, arrived at the 86th minute: Grgić launched Koutsias in depth, who arrived on the bottom, raised his head and served Cassano on the limit. The trequartista controls, enters the box and shoots with precision, signing the Bianconeri's advantage.
In the second half Thun presses and scares Lugano, the last occasion arrives at the 93rd minute with Rupp's powerful left shot from outside the area, but Saipi is once more reactive and deflects in corner, closing the match.
After six minutes of recovery, the triple whistle arrives and delivers to Lugano a precious and valuable victory, obtained in numeric inferiority and on the field of the leader. A success that is the result of solidity, attention in the difficult moments and concreteness in the decisive occasions. Three points that give continuity to the HCL path and confirm the excellent form period of Croci-Torti's team, who will be engaged at Cornaredo on Wednesday in the recovery of the match against San Gallo.
FC THUN - FC LUGANO 0-1
Brack Super League - Day 14
22 November 2025 - Stockhorn Arena
Spectators: 7353
Scorers: 86' Cassano
FC THUN (4-4-2): Steffen; Dähler (88' Stewart), Bamert, Bürki, Heule; Reichmuth (75' Meichtry), Bertone, Roth (70' Rupp), Imeri (75' Matoshi); Ibayi (70' Labeau), Rastoder.
Available: Eicher, Montolio, Gutbub, Fehr.
Manager: Mauro Lustrinelli.
FC LUGANO (4-2-3-1): Saipi; Zanotti, Papadopoulos, Mai, Marques (90' El Wafi); Grgić, Bislimi; Cimignani (78' Cassano), Dos Santos (78' Brault-Guillard), Mahou (62' Belhadj); Behrens (78' Koutsias).
At disposal: Mina, Doumbia, Pihlström, Duville-Parsemain.
Coach: Mattia Croci-Torti.
Referee: Nico Gianforte.
Assistants: Nicolas Müller and Leroy Hartmann.
4th Official: Marijan Drmic.
VAR/AVAR: Anojen Kanagasingam and Julian Müller.
Admitted: Roth (THU), Mahou (LUG), Belhadj (LUG), Bürki (THU), Saipi (LUG)
Sent off: Bislimi (LUG)