FC Lugano secured a hard-fought victory ahead of the international break, beating Winterthur 4–2. At the Schützenwiese, the bianconeri staged an extraordinary comeback to win 4–2 after falling two goals behind. The stars of the evening were Bislimi (a goal and an assist), Dos Santos and Behrens — the latter finding the net for the third match in a row — as well as an excellent Cimignani, who scored the fourth goal.
FALLING BEHIND
The bianconeri dominated the early stages: in the 13th minute, Alioski picked out Papadopoulos from the corner flag, but his close-range header was saved by Kapino. Four minutes later, Lugano had a double chance: Bislimi’s shot from outside the box was parried, and on the rebound, Belhadj, from point-blank range, was once again denied by the home goalkeeper. In the 24th minute, Behrens, played in by Belhadj in front of the goalkeeper, tried a lob that went just wide.
However, at their first real chance, Winterthur took the lead in the 27th minute: following a corner, Dansoko was quickest to react to von Ballmoos’s parry and made it 1–0. After a first half in which they dominated but went into the break a goal down, the bianconeri returned to the dressing room trailing by a goal.
THE COMEBACK
The second half got off to the worst possible start: after just twenty seconds, Hunziker struck from thirty metres out, finding the top corner to make it 2–0. Lugano did not let their heads drop and fought back strongly: in the 54th minute, Marques hit the post from a Bislimi assist, and moments later Papadopoulos came close to scoring with a header.
The match seemed to be going against them, but in the 57th minute came the turning point: Bislimi produced a left-footed strike from a tight angle which, after taking a deflection, found the net. Seven minutes later, Bislimi himself played a through ball to Dos Santos, who, from the centre of the box, beat Kapino at the near post to make it 2–2. It was the prelude to taking the lead: in the 68th minute, Mahou burst down the wing and delivered a perfect cross for Behrens, who diverted the ball into the net to make it 3–2 and complete the comeback. Two minutes later, the fourth goal arrived, with Cimignani finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box to make it 4–2.
In the closing stages, Zanotti, returning from a long-term injury, came on and immediately showed promising signs, coming close to scoring the fifth goal.
And so a spectacular match came to an end in Winterthur, in which Lugano turned the game on its head with character and quality. Now comes the international break, ahead of the bianconeri’s next fixture, scheduled for Saturday 18 October at Cornaredo against FC Zurich.
WINTERTHUR – FC LUGANO
Brack Super League – Matchday
8, 5 October 2025 – Stadion Schützenwiese, Winterthur
Goalscorers: 27’ Dansoko, 46’ Hunziker, 57’ Bislimi, 64′ Dos Santos, 68′ Behrens, 70′ Cimignani
WINTERTHUR (4-4-2): Kapino; Sidler, Arnold (capt.), Martins, Diaby; Kasami (77’ Cueni), Jankewitz (77’ Schneider), Zuffi (88’ Buess), Dansoko (77’ Momoh); Maluvunu (62’ Burkart), Hunziker.
Substitutes: Golliard, Ulrich, Brogli, Citherlet.
Manager: Uli Forte.
FC LUGANO (4-2-3-1): von Ballmoos; Marques (59’ Zanotti), Papadopoulos, Mai, Alioski; Grgic, Blisimi; Cimignani (88’ Cassano), Belhadj (59’ Dos Santos), Mahou (74’ Brault-Guillard); Behrens (88’ Duville-Parsemain).
Substitutes: Saipi, Doumbia, El Wafi, Pihlström.
Manager: Mattia Croci-Torti.
Referee: Désirée Blanco.
Assistant referees: Pascal Hirzel, Mirco Bürgi.
Fourth official: Jonathan Jaussi.
VAR and AVAR: Alessandro Dudic and Maxime Odief.
Booked: Zuffi (WIN), Behrens (LUG), Mahou (LUG), Sidler (WIN), Hunziker (WIN)