Midweek round and last away match of 2025 for Mattia Croci-Torti's FC Lugano. On Wednesday the 17th of December, at the Letzigrund Stadion, the Bianconeri take the field only three days after the convincing victory against Servette FC, called to confirm signs of growth and solidity. In front of them there is a FC Zurich in confidence, back from five consecutive useful results and unbeaten since last November 1st, factors that make the confrontation particularly demanding.
Also making the challenge even more significant is the classification situation. Only three points separate the two teams, divided by the thin border between Championship Group and Relegation Group, with Lugano sixth at 27 points and Zurich immediately behind.
The beginning of the game is balanced and poor of occasions. During the first 20 minutes, Lugano tried to manage the possession, while Zurich answered with intensity, high pressing and some ball recovery in the adversary's half of the field, but without creating real dangers. After the half of the first time, it's the Bianconeri who show themselves with more continuity: Koutsias, lined up for the second consecutive game on the left side with Behrens in the middle, tries a couple of personal initiatives going back on the right side, but both conclusions are rejected by the defence.
At the 41st minute came the first real chance of the match, and it was for Lugano. On Grgic's set kick, Papadopoulos turns right in the area, attempting the replica of the goal already seen against Servette, but the ball ends by a little to the side.
Then, on a reversal of the front, at the end of the first period, Zurich went close to the advantage: Phaëton restarted on the counter-attack after an error in the Bianconeri's exit, returned on the right and kicked, but found the answer of Saipi, also helped by the post. So it went into half-time at 0-0, with little excitement but great balance.
BEHRENS AT 91'
The second half opened along the same lines as the end of the first, with Zurich dangerous in transition. Phaëton again entered the area and tried a treacherous cross shot, on which Saipi was again careful. Lugano tried to react at the 56th minute with a conclusion from the distance of Cimignani, but it didn't hit the goal.
At the 62nd minute it was again the Bianconeri to make themselves dangerous on a dead ball: Cimignani's corner and Papadopoulos' header, that soared higher than all the others but couldn't find the goal. Shortly afterwards, at the 68th minute, Zurich almost reached the advantage with the new-entered player Reverson, who first saw a close conclusion rejected by the defence and then tried again from a defiladed position, but finding Saipi's safe hold.
Lugano's answer arrives at the 71st minute, when Cimignani brushes a precise cross for Behrens, who impacts in the area but finds on his way a great save of the home goalkeeper. The game remained intense and fought, sometimes foul, but lacking of real goal occasions.
The decisive moment arrived in the second half. At the 91st minute Lugano found the play that broke the balance: a splendid central triangulation, Cimignani served the insertion of Bislimi who, alone in front of the goalkeeper, chose the most unselfish solution by supporting Behrens who deposited in the empty goal.
In the final, the match, until then deadlocked, suddenly came alive. Zurich remained in ten for Osborne's expulsion and Lugano even grazed the double with Mahou in counterattack, on Cimignani's cross. After five minutes of recovery, the Bianconeri could celebrate a very heavy victory.
Three points that allow Croci-Torti's team to detach Zurich in the league standings and to move up to the fourth place, also thanks to the contemporary defeat of Young Boys, next adversary on Sunday the 21st of December at Cornaredo in the last game of the year.
TABLE
FC ZURIGO - FC LUGANO 0-1
Brack Super League - 18th day
17 December 2025 - Stadion Letzigrund
Spectators: 10,348
Scorers: 91' Behrens
FC ZURIGO (4-3-1-2): Brecher; Kamberi, Vujevic, Sauter, Ligue (46' Volken); Emmanuel (59' Reverson), Tsawa (64' Krasniqi), Reichmuth; Zuber (93' Perea); Kény, Phaëton (93' Odera).
Available: Huber, Bangoura, Tchamda, Ihendu.
Manager: Dennis Hediger.
FC LUGANO (4-4-2): Saipi; Zanotti, Mai (46' Kelvin), Papadopoulos, Marques (70' Brault-Guillard); Dos Santos (59' Steffen), Bislimi, Grgic, Cimignani (99' Maslarov); Koutsias (59' Mahou), Behrens.
At disposal: Mina, Kendouci, Cassano, Pihlström.
Coach: Mattia Croci-Torti.
Referee: Nico Gianforte
Assistants: Claudio dos Santos and Mirco Bürgi
Fourth Official: Logan Berchier
VAR and AVAR: Hajrim Qovanaj and Luca Scheibli
Admitted: Vujevic (ZUR), Grgic (LUG), Ligue (ZUR), Keny (ZUR), Odera (ZUR), Saipi (LUG).
Sent off: Osborne (ZUR).