It is a special evening that accompanies the last match of 2025 of FC Lugano. In front of 3.687 spectators, in a Cornaredo festively dressed, with the stands coloured by the red Christmas hats and in a climate of great participation, the direct match of the 19th day of the Brack Super League is staged, and it is worth much more than three points. The game, in fact, faces two teams separated by only one point in the league standings. The FC Lugano arrives at the appointment after the success of Zurich, that allowed it to overcome the BSC Young Boys, called instead to react after the heavy internal ko against the Grasshopper CZ. At Cornaredo, the Bianconeri want to close the year in the best way, pushed by their public.
HURRICANE START
The Bianconeri needed only three minutes to direct the match. Steffen was extraordinary in keeping on the pitch with his heel a ball destined to go out for a throw-in, Zanotti picked it up and brushed a perfect cross from the right, on which Kevin Behrens leapt into the area with timing and power, beating Keller with his header. It is the 1-0 that lights up Cornaredo and confirms the form moment of the number 91, at his second consecutive goal after the decisive Zurich's goal.
Lugano continued to push with a very high rhythm, aggressive pressing and great intensity, putting in serious difficulty a Young Boys who struggled to find references. At the 16th minute the doubling arrives: Grgić draws a very long and precise throw from his half of the field, Steffen attacks the depth behind the line and comes face to face with Keller. The HCL number 11 is glacial, doesn't miss and signs the 2-0, rewarding a first part of the game practically perfect for the house masters.
During the following minutes, Lugano's domination is evident, but the HCL players slowly try to raise their heads. At the 27th minute Virginius found space on the left side and put a low cross for Bedia, who from few steps didn't frame the goal, wasting the first real occasion for the guests. Three minutes later it is still Virginius who makes himself dangerous with a conclusion on the first post, on which Saipi is careful and deflects in the corner.
Lugano, however, did not give up pushing. At the 35th minute, Papadopoulos breaks forward, dialogues with Koutsias and tries the conclusion from the limit on the first post, skimming the target. The Bianconeri deservedly went ahead by two goals at half-time after an intense, aggressive and characterful first half.
TRIUMPH AND CELEBRATION
The second half opened along the same lines as the first. In the 51st minute Behrens immediately had a great chance: served deep by Cimignani, he saw his first shot repelled by the defence and the second, with the goal practically free, finished just over the crossbar. One minute later Zanotti, in a very advanced position on the left side, comes back on the right and shoots at the corner, but Keller overcomes with a great intervention.
Lugano continued to grind game and occasions. At the 54th minute, directly on Saipi's throw, Koutsias presents himself alone in front of the goalkeeper, but he shoots high over the crossbar. The game lived a concussive phase at the 56th minute, when on a corner kick of Young Boys, an involuntary header of Grgić risked to surprise Saipi, but Steffen saved on the line, keeping the HCL goal inviolate.
In the 59th minute the episode that definitively broke the equilibrium arrived: Janko entered in a very hard way on the newly-entered Doumbia and the referee had no doubts, drawing the direct red card for the Young Boys' full-back. With an extra man and two goals of advantage, Lugano sniffs the right moment to close the accounts.
The final knock-out blow arrived at the 66th minute. Again Grgić is the protagonist with a millimetric throw that frees Marques on the lane, the Portuguese puts a precise cross in the middle of the area and Georgios Koutsias only has to push the ball into the net for the 3-0. It is the goal that certifies the Bianconeri's superiority and starts the celebration on the stands.
In the final time Lugano continued to control without running any risks. At the 72nd minute Papadopoulos grazes the poker through a header on a corner kick, while at the 78th minute Marques goes close to the goal with a header on a cross of an inspired Grgić. Young Boys, in numeric inferiority, could not make themselves dangerous anymore and the HCL defence managed with order until the triple whistle.
And so ends, between applauses and choruses, FC Lugano's 2025. A clear and heavy victory that allows the Bianconeri to lengthen the league standings on the Bernese, to take advantage of Basel's draw and to close the year at the third place, on the podium of the Brack Super League. Now the winter break, useful to recharge energies and recover some elements, before going back on the field on Saturday 17th January in Lucerne, to open a new chapter of a season that still promises great emotions.
TABLE
FC LUGANO - BSC YOUNG BOYS 3-0
Brack Super League - 19th day
21 December 2025 - Cornaredo Stadium
Spectators: 3687
Scorers: 3' Behrens, 16' Steffen, 66' Koutsias
FC LUGANO (4-2-3-1):
Saipi; Zanotti, D. Kelvin, Papadopoulos, Marques; Bislimi (46' Doumbia 75' Kendouci), Grgić; Cimignani (85' Cassano), Steffen (69′ Dos Santos), Koutsias (75' Mahou); Behrens.
Available: Mina, Brault-Guillard, Pihlström, Maslarov.
Coach: Mattia Croci-Torti.
BSC YOUNG BOYS (4-2-3-1):
Keller; Janko, Wüthrich, Benito, Mambwa (75' Smith); Lauper (46' Zoukrou), Gigović; Virginius (46' Córdova), Sanches (69' Pech), Fassnacht; Bedia (69' Males).
Available: Lindner, Andrews, Tsimba, Monteiro.
Coach: Gerardo Seoane.
Referee: Luca Cibelli
Assistants: Nicolas Tuberosa and Venancius Antony
Fourth Official: Luca Piccolo
VAR and AVAR: Nico Gianforte and Jonathan Jaussi
Admitted: Grgic (LUG), Wüthrich (YB), Lauper (YB), Papadopoulos (LUG), Kelvin (LUG).
Sent off: Janko (YB)