Wrong choice of stadium?: Lugano suffers from a Letzi curse

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On Sunday, Lugano put in a real performance in Letzigrund: the team from Ticino dominated the rankings from A to Z (70 percent ball possession, twice as many passes, five times more corners) and still lost 1:2. Coach Mattia Croci-Torti can hardly believe it and is really satisfied after the final whistle. Sports director Carlos da Silva says: “You actually can’t lose a match like that.”

The Letzigrund has been a bad place for the Luganesi so far: at the beginning of August, after two victories at the start in Zurich, they suffered their first defeat of the season: 0-3 at FCZ. And Lugano’s third appearance of the season so far in this stadium is anything but a football festival: clean sheet against Bodö/Glimt on an almost unplayable pitch in front of almost empty stands (1,384 spectators).

If those responsible at Lugano could turn back the clock, they would probably choose another alternative stadium by now. In retrospect, was this the wrong choice of stadium? Da Silva: “No, there was almost no alternative. The Swissporarena in Lucerne would of course have been logistically more convenient for us, but that was not possible because FC Luzern had also qualified for Europe.

Da Silva: “We can also win in Letzigrund”

Before the start of the season, Lugano mentioned the European winter as a goal for the season. Thanks to the sensational away win at Besiktas Istanbul, we are on track. But if it wants to maintain its leading position in Group D of the Conference League, Lugano must beat the Letzi curse today (kick-off: 6.45pm).

Not an easy task: Bruges, which is equal on points, is of a different caliber than Sunday’s ranking. Renato Steffen and Co. need to improve, especially when it comes to efficiency. «Bruges is a very strong opponent. Yet I am convinced that we can also get three points in this match. We can also win in the Letzigrund,” says da Silva.

The surface and decor will be different than against Bodö: the field is new and 2,200 Belgian fans are expected, with a total of around 4,000 spectators.

Will Shaqiri come back to Ticino?

By the way: After Chicago’s failure to qualify for the play-offs, some in Ticino are dreaming of a temporary return of Ousmane Doumbia (31) and Maren Haile-Selassie (24), who were on loan to the MLS. It remains a dream. The regulations prohibit this.

Xherdan Shaqiri (32) could soon appear as a training guest in Ticino. A year ago he kept himself fit for the World Cup with the partner club of Chicago. There are now also European Championship qualifiers just around the corner.

Source : Blick