After the men's first team and the U21 formation, the FC Lugano women's team is also warming up its engines with increasing frequency for the resumption of the championship, set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 in the Zurich town of Schlieren.
WHERE WE HAD LEFT OFF
In the first part of the year back in the National B League, the HCL girls distinguished themselves with a crescendo of performance. Starting with few players at their disposal, the group slowly stabilized, ending the summer-autumn phase in eighth place with 11 points in 12 games played. Currently, due to the Wil's success over Solothurn in last weekend's rematch, the team led by coach Giorgio Fransioli has dropped one position, reflexively occupying the ninth place with a two-length margin (and one more match absolved) over Oerlikon/Polizei ZH. Wins won total 3, stake splits 2 and setbacks 7. Total seals are 10 and goals conceded 22, for a goal-difference of -12.
THE NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS
While leading the scoring charts is Elena van Niekerk (Winterthur forward) with 12 goals, on the underceneric side the most prolific soccer player is Mathilda Andreoli with 4 personal goals. Eleonora Castellani, and Michelle Gigante follow at 2. Claudia Fera and Anaïs Marie Fragnito close the team ranking with one goal each.
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WINTER PREPARATION
Having closed the first phase of the season in November, the Lugano women enjoyed a rest period, and then found themselves preparing for the commitments of a 2025 that promises to be of fundamental importance for the future. Between strength training in the gym and field sessions, Antonella Albertini and her teammates acquitted themselves of several friendly matches. Not all of them ended as hoped, as four defeats (0-4 with St. Gallen, 0-3 with Mendrisio's Allievi B, 1-7 with Rapid Lugano Youth League C and 0-3 with Lugano FE-14) were recorded against only one success (5-0 with Team Ticino Femminile U18). However, what is important is to "put" gas in the legs to be ready for future battles.
THE AVAILABLE ROSE
The roster that the coaching staff will be able to count on is virtually unchanged from the first part of the season. The only departure (midfielder Michelle Corti) has been counterbalanced by two new faces: 16-year-old Nina Gnesa (offensive outside, forward or on occasion also fullback), an element of perspective coming from Gambarogno, lands on the shores of the Ceresio with the desire to try a more attractive adventure, and 22-year-old Sabina Di Muro (multi-purpose midfielder arriving as a free agent after an adventure with the Portuguese Famalicão and already with several games with Zurich behind her back).
SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS
The first day to be circled in red on the calendar is Saturday, February 22, 2025. At 6 p.m., FC Lugano Femminile will duel with the Zurich-based Schlieren. The month of March will be the decisive one, leading to the division of the standings. In the space of four weeks, the girls will be engaged in five matches, which will see them face Étoile Carouge (Saturday 1, 6:30 p.m. in Cornaredo), Winterthur (Saturday 8, 6:30, also at home), Küssnacht a/R (Saturday 15, 8:00 p.m., on Tigurine soil), Oerlikon/Polizei ZH (Saturday 22, 6:00 p.m., again on the banks of the Limmat) and, finally, Wil (Saturday 29, 6:00 p.m., within the friendly walls of Camp F).
PREVIEW BY GIORGIO FRANSIOLI: "PERFORMANCE CONSTANCY GOAL"
Coach, what is your assessment of the run-up to the second half of the season?
"It was a demanding preparation, both from the point of view of athletic and physical as well as technical and tactical work, where we had to put a lot of gas in the engine. If you look solely at the results of friendly matches, you might think of one disappointment after another. Instead, I am very satisfied, as we set up these kinds of matches to test the girls against already formed men's teams".
The first phase was a steady crescendo of performance. What do you expect now from your girls?
"We need to take a step forward in terms of consistent performance over the medium term. There are still six games left to achieve a better placement than the current one. After that, we will most likely face seven more with the goal of saving ourselves as soon as possible".
On Saturday you will be on the scene in Schlieren. What kind of game will it be?
"I expect a duel between two teams that intend to play soccer. The Zürichs are effective and well suited to that role. I cannot say whether many goals will be scored or few. I am sure it will be a hard-fought contest, with our opponents charged up to show their quality after the training camp just held. Plus, they are in the race for second place, and with Étoile Carouge losing their best striker, the stimulus is even greater. For Saturday's challenge they need to win, while we want to win".