FC Lugano ended the first of their two scheduled friendlies during their summer training camp in Weiler-Simmerberg, Germany, with a win. At the Stadion Memmingen, the bianconeri beat FC Memmingen 1907, an Oberliga side, 4-0 in their third pre-season friendly.
As Mattia Croci-Torti had indicated the day before, the match against Memmingen should still be viewed as a step in the preparation process – little more than a training session – useful for gradually building up pace, fitness and match minutes.
FIRST BIANCONERI
HIGHLIGHTS In the first half, Croci-Torti fielded Gebhardt in goal, with Zanotti, Kelvin and Bichsel in defence. In midfield, Moncada, Grgić, Ajdin and Alioski started, whilst the attacking trio consisted of Steffen, Koutsias and the youngster Raffa.
Lugano immediately took control of the game, building play methodically and taking the lead from a corner: Steffen delivered a precise cross from the corner flag and Bichsel rose highest to head past the Memmingen goalkeeper, scoring his first goal in a bianconero shirt.
Shortly afterwards, Koutsias found the net from a cross by Zanotti from the right, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The second goal came, however, in the closing stages of the first half: Koutsias himself broke into the box, rounded the goalkeeper after a rebound and laid the ball off to Raffa in the centre, who simply had to tap it into the net. For the young U21 player, it was his first goal for the first team.
ALL CHANGES AT HALF-TIME
At half-time, Croci-Torti replaced all ten outfield players, as he had done in previous friendlies. Papadopoulos, Mai and Carbone came on in front of Gebhardt, with Cimignani, Kendouci, Bislimi and Parente in midfield. Up front, Beckham Castro, Behrens and Dos Santos were brought on.
In the 56th minute came another first. From a short corner, Cimignani and Bislimi combined on the right and picked out Beckham Castro on the edge of the box: the Colombian controlled the ball and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot, which nestled in at the near post to make it 3–0.
Lugano continued to control possession and sealed the match in the 90th minute through Bislimi. The move began with a through ball from Cimignani: the midfielder’s first shot was blocked, but he was on hand to tap in the rebound, making it 4–0.
For the bianconeri, it was a positive test in the midst of their German training camp, with valuable playing time for the whole squad and encouraging signs as they prepare for the new season.
THE NEXT TEST
FC Lugano will be back in action on Friday 10 July against FC Heidenheim 1846, in the second and final friendly of their training camp in Germany, which will be streamed live on the Club’s YouTube channel.
RELIVE THE MATCH AGAINST MEMMINGEN BELOW