Just a few days after the 2-2 draw in the top-of-the-table clash with Young Boys, FC Lugano return to the AIL Arena. On Wednesday 16 September at 7.00 pm, the bianconeri host FC St. Gallen 1879 in the rescheduled match from Matchday 4 of the Brack Super League, in a fixture where crucial points are at stake for the top of the table.
Lugano go into the match as league leaders with 19 points, three more than Young Boys, and remain unbeaten this season. St. Gallen, meanwhile, sit in fifth place on 10 points, three points behind Basel.
ST. GALLEN’S FORM
The match was originally scheduled for 23 August, but was postponed to allow both teams to prepare properly for their respective UEFA Conference League play-offs. Since then, their European campaigns have taken different paths.
FC Lugano saw off Maccabi Tel Aviv, thereby securing a place in the League Phase. St. Gallen, however, were knocked out by FC Nordsjælland.
Their European exit coincided with a difficult spell in the league as well for Enrico Maaßen’s side. Defeats against Thun and Grasshopper were followed by a comeback away at Servette, whom they beat 2–0 in Geneva, before suffering a 3–0 home defeat to Sion on Saturday. Three defeats and one win in their last four matches have left St. Gallen in fifth place.
However, the result of the latest fixture does not fully reflect the match played by the Biancoverdi, who – particularly in the first half – created several chances without managing to convert them, whilst Sion made the most of the opportunities they were given.
LUGANO, STILL AT THE TOP
For FC Lugano, the draw against Young Boys brought an end to a run of six consecutive league wins, though it did not affect their position in the table. After Daniel Dos Santos had put them ahead, the Bernese side had turned the result around before half-time, but Albian Ajeti’s late goal allowed the bianconeri to finish 2–2 and maintain a three-point lead over second place.
This rescheduled fixture now gives both teams the chance to complete their fixtures: St. Gallen can draw level with Basel on 13 points, whilst Lugano have the opportunity to further consolidate their lead and move six points clear of Young Boys.
Kick-off is on Wednesday 16 September at 7.00 pm at the AIL Arena.
INJURY UPDATE
Ahead of the match against St. Gallen, Mattia Croci-Torti will be without Renato Steffen, who was forced off the pitch in the first half against Young Boys. Medical examinations have revealed an injury to his right leg that will keep him out for the next two matches.
David von Ballmoos was also substituted at half-time in the match against the Bernese side due to abdominal discomfort. After sitting out the last few training sessions as a precaution, further examinations revealed no injury and the goalkeeper has resumed training as normal. Finally, Kevin Behrens’ return to play continues.
