Following Tuesday’s medical examinations and the fitness tests carried out on Wednesday at the AIL Arena, the bianconeri returned to the pitch today for their first training session of the 2026/27 season. The squad gathered at the “Roque Maspoli” Sports Centre in Caslano, the venue that will host the first phase of their pre-season preparations.
Under the guidance of Mattia Croci-Torti, the team officially kicked off their on-pitch work, reuniting after the weeks’ holiday following the final match of last season’s Brack Super League. The return to training was marked by the squad’s enthusiasm and eagerness to get straight back to work, despite the sweltering heat that characterised the day.
Present were the players who had already taken part in the training sessions over the previous few days, alongside a number of youngsters from the youth academy who have been called up to the first team for this phase of pre-season. Also joining the group were new signings Joel Bichsel and Felix Gebhardt, taking part in their first training session on the pitch with their teammates. Meanwhile, the players returning from international duty – Delcroix, Pihlstrom and Koutsias – and the two new South American signings, Beckham Castro and Dereck Moncada, are expected to join the squad in the coming days.
CASLANO, THEN THE TRAINING CAMP IN GERMANY
As part of their partnership with FC Malcantone, the bianconeri will train at the “Roque Maspoli” Sports Centre until Friday 3 July. The team will then set off for their summer training camp in Weiler-Simmerberg, Germany, scheduled from Sunday 5 to Saturday 11 July: a week’s training in the mountains which will also provide a welcome respite from the Ticino heat.
Three friendly matches are also scheduled during the pre-season: on Saturday 27 June against Neuchâtel Xamax FC in Giubiasco, on Saturday 4 July against FC Rapperswil-Jona in Losone, and on Friday 17 July against FC Vaduz in Balerna. The first official fixture is scheduled for Thursday 23 July, with the first leg of the UEFA Conference League Q2 tie against Kosovan side KF Dukagjini.
The programme will continue with another training session tomorrow morning, once again at the “Roque Maspoli” Sports Centre in Caslano, where the bianconeri will continue their pre-season preparations.
