Second and last friendly match of the winter training camp for FC Lugano, that at the Villaitana Football Center of Benidorm faces FC Viktoria Plzeň in a high level test, useful to put minutes in the legs and to verify the physical fitness in the long run. In fact, the two teams agreed on a match spread over three 45-minute periods, a choice that allowed the coaches to rotate the players and observe the physical response of their respective groups at the end of a cycle of intense work.
The rhythm is good since the first phases, with both the formations trying to impose their game. At the 18th minute FC Lugano builds the first noteworthy occasion: Steffen's header and Dos Santos' volley, rejected by the defence. Three minutes later, the HCL formation is still making itself dangerous, with an inspired Dos Santos who sends an inviting low shot for Behrens, who is able to score with his right, but the action is stopped because of an offside position. At the 23rd minute, however, Viktoria Plzeň passed: on the development of a corner kick taken by Višinský, Vašulín stood out on the second post and signed the Czech advantage, making his centimetres count. Lugano tried to react and on the 28th minute Steffen created havoc in the area, trying to serve Behrens all alone in the centre, but the providential intervention of a defender avoided the tap-in. In the final minutes of the first time, Plzeň's pressure increased and went close to doubling the score on the 38th minute with Višinský, stopped by Saipi's save after a nice exchange with Panoš, and then again with a double conclusion of Souaré, on which the HCL goalkeeper was again decisive. Shortly before the intermission, Višinský sows panic again on the left lane, puts in the middle a deviated cross that becomes good for Vašulín who shoots from a few steps but finds another decisive intervention of Saipi.
In the second of the three periods, Lugano re-enters the field with a very good attitude and at the 51st minute immediately finds the draw: Dos Santos' throw for Bislimi, who puts a precise low shot in the middle of the area for Behrens, who is able to finalize and to confirm his goal after the goal scored in the friendly game against the 1. FC Köln three days ago.
In the 65th minute captain Bottani made his comeback, who five minutes later had an excellent chance, presenting himself alone in front of the goalkeeper but kicking high. Positive signs also arrived between the posts, with David von Ballmoos returning to the pitch after injury.
At the 74th minute Plzeň, however, went back ahead: Valenta's corner kick and Adam Kadlec's insertion on the first post, who, with his 196 centimetres, anticipated everybody and brought the Czechs to the advantage. Lugano has the immediate occasion to answer and at the 76th minute Koutsias finds himself face to face with the goalkeeper after a rebound, but his conclusion is rejected. At the 86th minute comes the new HCL draw: on a cross rejected by the defence, the new-entered Cassano controls with his chest on the edge of the area and shoots with his left hand with power; the goalkeeper intercepts but does not hold back, allowing the ball to end up in the net.
The ninety minutes therefore ended in a draw; in the third time, then, the rhythm physiologically dropped and Lugano conceded space to the adversaries, who managed to strike twice from the distance. At the 114th minute, Alexandr Sojka infiltrates the corner with a precise conclusion, while at the 123rd minute Christophe Kabongo finds the goal with a splendid solution from outside the area, fixing the overall score at the end of the 135 minutes of the game at 4-2.
This is the end of a useful test for the FC Lugano that, in the afternoon, comes back to Ticino, officially archiving the winter training camp 2025/26 at Benidorm. Now one week of work at Cornaredo, with an eye on the Brack Super League resumption, scheduled on Saturday the 17th of January away against FC Lucerne.
TABLE
FC LUGANO - FC VIKTORIA PLZEŇ 2-4 (after 135 minutes)
International Friendly
Villaitana Football Center
Scorers: 23' Vašulín (VIK), 51' Behrens (LUG), 74' Kadlec (VIK), 86' Cassano (LUG), 114' Sojka (VIK), 123' Kabongo (VIK)
FC LUGANO (3-4-2-1): Saipi (78' von Ballmoos); Zanotti (78' Doumbia), Papadopoulos (78' Kelvin), Delcroix (72' Mahou); Cimignani, Grgić (78' Parente), Bislimi (78' Kendouci), Alioski (46' Marques); Steffen (65' Bottani), Dos Santos (72' Koutsias); Behrens (73' Dos Santos 78' Cassano).
Coach: Mattia Croci-Torti.
FC VIKTORIA PLZEŇ (3-4-2-1): Wiegele (46' Tvrdoň); Havel (68' Doski), Dweh (68' Kadlec), Spáčil (68' Krčík); Suchý (68' Kabongo), Panoš (68' Slončík), Valenta (68' Sojka), Souarò (68' Jemelka); Hrošovský (68' Željković), Visingký (68' Adu); Vašulín (68' Novák).
Coach: Martin Hyský.
Referee: Mr Morales
Assistants: Mr Gomis and Mr Lopez
Admitted: Dweh (VIK), Bislimi (LUG), Dos Santos (LUG), Jemelka (VIK)