FC Lugano returned to Cornaredo after more than a month away, aiming to build on the excellent start to 2026 shown in Lucerne. Facing them was a well-organised FC Winterthur side, ready to sit deep and break forward, as previewed on the eve of the match by Mattia Croci-Torti.
Lugano’s game plan was evident from the opening minutes, based on control of possession and constant pressure. After just two minutes, a rehearsed corner-kick routine freed Dos Santos at the far post, his effort finishing against the outside of the net. Lugano kept control of the game and in the 14th minute Dos Santos again won a free kick just outside the box. Anto Grgić stepped up and curled a superb effort over the wall past Kapino to open the scoring. It was the midfielder’s fifth goal of the season and his second from a direct free kick after the one scored against Servette FC.
Winterthur tried to respond in the 26th minute with a quick counter-attack led by Kasami, who found Hunziker inside the box. The number 17’s shot, deflected by Zanotti, threatened to catch Saipi out at the near post, but the Lugano goalkeeper reacted well and pushed it away. In the 34th minute, Lugano went close to doubling their lead with a fine one-two in tight spaces between Dos Santos and Steffen, the number 11 firing from close range only to be denied by an excellent flying save from Kapino.
The visitors remained dangerous and in the 39th minute Hunziker rose highest in the middle from a corner, sending his header just wide. At Winterthur’s best moment, however, Lugano struck. In the 42nd minute, a well-worked team move led to Behrens’ goal: a through ball from Cimignani, a clever backheel from Dos Santos to beat the goalkeeper, and a simple tap-in into an empty net for the Lugano striker. Barely a minute later, the hosts extended their lead further. Following Winterthur’s kick-off, Lugano’s high press resulted in Zanotti winning the ball, making a forward run and being picked out by Behrens before lifting an elegant chip over Kapino just before half-time.
BELHADJ SEALS IT AFTER THE BREAK
The second half opened at a more controlled pace, with Lugano managing their lead and Winterthur struggling to find space. The Bianconeri threatened through two individual efforts by Alioski and Cimignani, both denied by Kapino. In the 66th minute, Maluvunu tried to reopen the contest with a powerful long-range strike, forcing Saipi into a diving save. From the resulting corner, the move developed into Sidler’s cross from the right and Hunziker’s header, which this time found the net to reduce the deficit.
Lugano’s response was immediate. In the 70th minute, Steffen went close with a left-footed effort from outside the box that narrowly missed the post. The decisive moment arrived in the 79th minute: high pressing on Winterthur’s build-up led to Belhadj winning the ball, driving into the box and beating Kapino to score his first goal of the season after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations with the Tunisian national team.
In the closing stages, Winterthur had one last chance in the 82nd minute, when a ball flashed across the box after a flick-on header and Dansoko, from close range, fired over. Lugano then comfortably controlled the final minutes, managing the advantage until the final whistle.
The Bianconeri thus secured an important win in front of their home crowd — their fifth in a row — allowing the team to continue its positive development. Attention now turns to the next league fixture, scheduled in seven days’ time in Zurich against Grasshoppers.