Having secured qualification for the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League to their satisfaction, it is already time for FC Lugano to turn their attention back to the Brack Super League. On Sunday, the bianconeri will face FC Sion in Valais, at the end of a particularly busy week for both sides.
Lugano go into the match on the back of three wins in their first three league games, whilst Didier Tholot’s side, following their opening-day defeat to Young Boys, have recorded two consecutive victories against Lucerne and Vaduz.
FROM BATUMI TO SION
Preparation for the match will inevitably be crammed into just a few days. The team returned from their trip to Batumi during the night between Thursday and Friday, following a draw against Maccabi Tel Aviv which, thanks to their victory in the first leg at the AIL Arena, secured the bianconeri’s place in the Conference League’s League Phase.
As early as Friday, the squad gathered at the AIL Arena, first to watch the draw for the European competition together and then for a short training session, reserved only for those who hadn’t played in the match against Maccabi.
A swift change of focus, as foreshadowed by Mattia Croci-Torti himself just a few minutes after securing qualification in Georgia: “In 12 minutes’ time, I’ll start thinking about the match in Sion. Now is the time to celebrate, yes, but we have big goals.” The manager had given his players time to savour the result, whilst emphasising that preparations for the next fixture would begin straight away.
SION RETURN FROM EUROPE
The fixture list has also thrown up a similar scenario for Sion, who are themselves returning from a European fixture on Thursday evening. The Valais side have returned from their trip to Amsterdam, where their defeat to Ajax brought their UEFA Conference League play-off campaign to an end.
For Tholot’s side, attention now turns entirely to the league, where their form has improved following an initial slip-up: their opening-day defeat to Young Boys was followed by victories over Lucerne and Vaduz, giving them a total of six points from their first three matches.
Lugano will therefore arrive at Tourbillon following a week of European action that ended with qualification, and having made a perfect start to the league campaign so far. Between returning from Batumi and setting off for Valais, there is little time to spare: Sunday’s match is already the next fixture in a schedule which, at this stage of the season, allows for no breaks.
MEDICAL UPDATE
Kevin Behrens sustained an injury to his left hamstring after Thursday's match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, while tests carried out upon the team's return from Georgia confirmed a problem with Martim Marques' left adductor, which he suffered during Wednesday's final training session. The recovery time for both players will be assessed over the coming days. Ezgjan Alioski, meanwhile, will be gradually reintegrated into the squad over the course of next week.
