FC Lugano returns to the pitch at Schützenwiese with the aim of maintaining its position in the table and collecting valuable points away from home against a Winterthur side that is always tough to beat on its home turf.
The Bianconeri start well and try to hurt their opponents in the opening minutes with two long-range shots from Grgić and Dos Santos, both of which are off target. The first real chance comes in the eighth minute: a cross from Cimignani and an acrobatic shot from Papadopoulos, who has moved up to centre forward, misses by a whisker. Winterthur responded in the 22nd minute with Hunziker, who was played in by Citherlet, but his right-footed shot went wide. As the minutes passed, the game became more physical, fragmented and full of challenges, with few clean moves. Shortly before half-time, the hosts scored through Kasami, but VAR intervened to signal a handball in the build-up and the goal was disallowed, leaving the score at 0-0 at the break.
GRGIĆ RESPONDS TO HUNZIKER Lugano came back onto the pitch with
greater determination in the second half, but in the 55th minute, an incident occurred that changed the course of the match: Bislimi, already on a yellow card, committed a foul in an attempt to recover a lost ball and received a second yellow, leaving the Ticino side a man down. Winterthur took courage from this and struck a few minutes later: Golliard won the ball high up the pitch and played it through the middle to Hunziker, who beat Saipi to put his side ahead. Despite being a man down, the Bianconeri did not give up, and Croci-Torti brought on fresh, attacking players such as Koutsias and Bottani. Ten minutes from the end, the Bianconeri's courage was rewarded when Kelvin was held back in the box from a free kick and the referee pointed to the spot. From eleven metres, Anto Grgić was as cool as ever and scored the equaliser.
In stoppage time, Lugano almost snatched the winner: Zanotti crossed to the far post and Kelvin's diving header hit the crossbar. It was the last moment of excitement in a hard-fought match that ended 1-1, the Bianconeri's second consecutive draw after last week's against Grasshopper.
It is a point that does not fully satisfy Lugano, who will have the opportunity to make amends in four days' time when Servette FC visit Cornaredo on Wednesday evening for another league match.
MATCH REPORT
FC WINTERTHUR – FC LUGANO 1-1
Brack Super League – Matchday 23
7 February 2026 – Schützenwiese, Winterthur
Spectators: 7,100
Goalscorers: 61' Hunziker, 80' pen. Grgić
FC WINTERTHUR (3-5-2): Kapino; Citherlet, Arnold, Durerr; Sidler (85' Dansoko), Kasami (85' Maksutaj), Jankewitz, Golliard (75' Schneider), Smith (75' Diaby); Buess (71' Maluvunu), Hunziker.
Substitutes: Spagnoli, Sahitaj, Kryeziu, Mühl.
Coach: Patrick Rahmen.
FC LUGANO (3-4-2-1): Saipi; Zanotti, Kelvin, Papadopoulos (72’ Koutsias); Cimignani, Grgić, Bislimi, Mahou (59' Mai); Steffen (88' Kendouci), Dos Santos (72' Bottani); Behrens.
Substitutes: von Ballmoos, Brault-Guillard, Pihlström, Maslarov, Parente.
Coach: Mattia Croci-Torti.
Referee: Luca Piccolo
Assistants: Claudio dos Santos and Mirco Bürgi
Fourth official: Luca Schelbli
VAR and AVAR: Déborah Anex and Julian Müller
Bookings: Grgić, Steffen, Mahou, Bislimi, Sidler, Diaby, Jankewitz
Sent off: Bislimi