After the midweek draw, FC Lugano takes to the pitch at St. Jakob-Park for the 25th matchday of the Brack Super League, in a clash between two teams separated by just three points in the standings. The Bianconeri, coming off three consecutive draws, are looking for consistency against reigning champions FC Basel, against whom they have already picked up two wins in as many games this season.
The match kicks off immediately: in the 4th minute, Basel creates a dangerous opportunity with Salah, who arrives at the far post to close a cross from Shaqiri, but finds Saipi ready to respond. The Bianconeri reacted and in the 25th minute built a good move with Bislimi and Koutsias - who came on for the injured Behrens - setting up Zanotti for a shot, but the Italian winger's powerful effort went over the bar. The game came to life and a minute later Basel responded with Bacanin, whose deflected right-footed shot grazed the post. In the 30th minute, the deadlock was broken: from a corner, the referee awarded a penalty to the home side for a push by Zanotti on Lerey, and Traoré made no mistake from the spot. Lugano tried to react a few minutes later, but Grgić's long-range shot was saved by Hitz. In the final minutes of the half, the Rhine side came close to doubling their lead on the counterattack with Salah, but Saipi made a double save to send the teams into the break with the hosts leading by one goal.
BIANCONERI REACTION AND KOUTSIAS
EQUALISER Lugano came back from the dressing room with greater determination and in the 55th minute came close to equalising with a powerful right-footed shot from the edge of the box by Koutsias, which went just over the bar. Basel responded in the 57th minute with Traoré, but the turning point came a minute later: another penalty for the home side, this time taken by Shaqiri, who, however, as in the previous match in November, missed the opportunity. Having escaped danger, the Bianconeri pushed forward with conviction and found the equaliser in the 63rd minute: a counterattack led by Dos Santos, who assisted Koutsias, who cut inside onto his left foot and beat Hitz at the near post.
Basel tried to react and at times pinned Lugano back in their own half, coming close to scoring with Akahomen from a set piece. However, Croci-Torti's team remained compact and responded in the 83rd minute with a powerful right-footed shot from Bislimi, which was saved by Hitz. In stoppage time, the Bianconeri had their biggest chance: Carbone crossed and Bislimi attempted a sure-fire deflection, which was saved by a great defensive block from Akahomen.
It was the last moment of excitement in an intense match, which ended in a draw and allowed Lugano to maintain third place in the table, continuing their run of positive results.
MATCH STATISTICS
FC BASEL – FC LUGANO 1-1
Brack Super League – Matchday 25
15 February 2026 – St. Jakob-Park
Attendance: 22,715
Goalscorers: 30' pen. Traorè, 64' Koutsias
FC BASEL (4-2-3-1): Hitz; Schmid (87' Cissé), Akahomen, Vouilloz, Rüegg (65' Tsunemoto); Bacanin, Leroy; Traoré (65' Šotiček), Shaqiri, Salah (87' Duranville); Ajeti (65' Koloto).
Substitutes: Salvi, Kacuri, Koindredi, Broschinski.
Manager: Stephan Lichtsteiner.
FC LUGANO (3-5-2): Saipi; Mai (46' Carbone), Kelvin, Papadopoulos; Zanotti, Bislimi, Grgić, Belhadj (62' Dos Santos), Cimignani (83' Brault-Guillard); Steffen (62' Mahou), Behrens (15' Koutsias).
Substitutes: von Ballmoos, Kendouci, Pihlström, Bottani.
Coach: Mattia Croci-Torti.
Referee: Fedayi San
Assistants: Stéphane De Almeida and Jonas Erni
Fourth official: Hüseyin Sanli
VAR and AVAR: Alessandro Dudic and Zrinko Prskalo
Bookings: Salah (BAS), Schmid (BAS), Kelvin (LUG), Cimignani (LUG), Papadopoulos (LUG).