After four consecutive 1-1 draws, three of which were away from home, FC Lugano is preparing to face Lausanne at Cornaredo Stadium in the 26th round of the Brack Super League. The match is scheduled for Sunday, 22 February 2026, at 4:30 p.m.
Approximately 48 hours before kick-off of the home match against Lausanne – fresh from the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off in the Czech Republic against Sigma Olomouc – Mattia Croci-Torti and Yanis Cimignani will meet with the media to preview the match at the usual Friday press conference.
MATTIA CROCI-TORTI: IMPROVING QUALITY IN THE FINAL METRES
The first few remarks concern what awaits the boys: After four results that have not seen us excel, we undoubtedly want to return to winning ways. Lausanne is full of ambitious young players who like to take to the pitch every three days, so the last thing on my mind is the fact that they will be playing again next Thursday.
The focus then shifts to the positives and negatives of recent performances: What I didn't like about the last four games was the work done in the final forty metres, where we lacked the quality needed to make the difference. To win and take all three points, you need to make decisive plays, and at the moment, that factor is lacking. If you don't attack deep, there is a risk of becoming a bit 'flat', and that's what we've been focusing on during this week's training sessions.
The arrival of João Carbone and his immediate inclusion in the starting eleven is the next topic of discussion: He's a lad who immediately made himself available at a time of great difficulty for us. He has few minutes under his belt, but what I liked was his positive attitude. He wanted to be there both with Servette and in Basel, even without training with the rest of the group, and he came onto the pitch with a lot of personality. We know we have to work hard with him, especially on his physical condition. But we're not worried, because he's a signing for the future.
From the analysis of a single player to that of a league in which Thun is at the top of the table with absolute merit: In life, you have to know when to take your hat off, compliment someone and say that the Bernese are doing something incredible. Personally, I like to shake hands with those who do things well. And Mauro Lustrinelli and his team are doing just that.
The statistics for this period show that the Bianconeri have been unbeaten since November (a 1-3 home defeat against St. Gallen): We've gone eleven games without defeat and in that time we've conceded fewer goals than our opponents. Of course, we're still a little way off Thun's level, but I'm not worried at all. It's normal for expectations to be high, but when you analyse the various aspects, you always have to be consistent in every single assessment you make.
YANIS CIMIGNANI: CONVINCED WE CAN DO BETTER
The 24-year-old French attacking winger, who has scored three goals and provided one assist in twenty-two appearances so far, explains that the series of draws has denied us the chance to take all three points. However, the team and I are convinced that we can do better. That's why we work hard every week to achieve as much success as possible.
During the current season, the Lyon native has played in multiple roles, confirming his tactical versatility: There is excellent chemistry with both Renato Steffen and Mattia Zanotti, as well as with the rest of the group. I try to adapt to different situations and do my best to put my teammates in the best possible position.