On Saturday 27 September at 6.00 pm, FC Lugano return to action at Cornaredo to face Grasshopper Club Zürich on matchday seven of the Brack Super League. The bianconeri go into the match following a home draw against Lausanne (1–1) and a week without any official fixtures, following their earlier elimination from the Swiss Cup. GCZ, meanwhile, are coming off the back of an away win in Ticino against Bellinzona, secured by a goal from Meyer, which saw the Zurich side progress in the cup.
FORM
The two sides are close to each other in the table: Grasshopper are eighth with 6 points, the result of one win and three draws, whilst Lugano sit in eleventh place with 4 points. The bianconeri have not won a league match since matchday three against Basel, but their recent performances have shown encouraging signs, such as their strong display in St. Gallen and the point earned against Lausanne.
200 FOR CROCI-TORTI
Saturday will also be a historic evening for Mattia Croci-Torti, who will reach his 200th official match in charge of FC Lugano. This milestone confirms him as the manager with the most appearances in the club’s history, further strengthening the bond between the Ticino-born manager and the bianconeri colours.
THE EIGHTH EDITION OF THE GREENMATCH
The match against Grasshopper will coincide with the eighth edition of the “Greenmatch”, the charity event linking FC Lugano to the Greenhope Foundation. As is tradition, the bianconeri will take to the pitch in a special green shirt, which will subsequently be auctioned off. All proceeds will be donated to support the foundation’s projects, once again confirming the club’s commitment to charitable and awareness-raising initiatives.
Croci-Torti’s COMMENTS
At the press conference, Mattia Croci-Torti warned of the dangers posed by Grasshopper: “Cup matches are a different kettle of fish. The opposition we can expect is the same as we’ve seen in recent league matches: a compact side that fights hard and always approaches matches here in Lugano with humility. To beat them, we’ll need to show the same fighting spirit. Then our qualities will make the difference.”
The manager acknowledged the difficulties of this start to the season, but reiterated his confidence in the squad: “The main difference compared to last year lies in confidence. Sometimes, in difficult moments, the courage to take certain risks wanes, but I remain convinced of the quality of my lads. The match against Lausanne showed positive signs and we want to turn them into a win, which would be very important for the future.”
Croci-Torti then emphasised the need to approach the match with determination: “I’ve told the team that this is a match we must win at all costs. We’ll need to be fully focused because Grasshopper have strong players from set pieces and in attack, but I have complete faith in my players. In front of our home crowd, we must make the most of every opportunity to take home the three points.”
BISLIMI’S COMMENTS
Speaking alongside the manager was Uran Bislimi, who has recently made his 100th Super League appearance in the bianconeri shirt. The midfielder spoke about the team’s current form: “We know we’re going through a difficult spell, but we’ll get through it together. We’ve got quality and in recent matches we’ve played some good football. We’re just lacking a bit of precision in front of goal – the kind that allows us to turn all our hard work into wins.”
On a personal level, Bislimi chose to focus on the team as a whole: “It doesn’t matter whether I score or provide an assist; the important thing is to win and take home the three points. We’ve prepared well this week and we need to stay focused from start to finish. Only by playing as a team will we manage to bounce back.”
ABSENTEES
Zanotti will be absent for the match against Grasshopper; although he was gradually reintegrated into the squad during the week and has been given the all-clear medically, he is being rested to regain his best physical condition. Kendouci’s recovery programme continues; this week he has been training daily on the pitch (running and ball work). Medical scans have also confirmed a positive recovery for Kelvin, who has started running on the pitch in recent days. Koutsias is continuing his rehabilitation programme with individual training and will rejoin the squad next week with the aim of making his return against Winterthur. Finally, Steffen, following a heavy collision with the Lausanne goalkeeper, has been discharged from hospital and will remain at rest until his next medical check-up; he is also suspended for Saturday’s match.