Last season's Swiss Super League runners-up Lugano start the 2024-25 season at home to Grasshopper Zurich at Cornaredo Stadium.
The away side narrowly avoided relegation and aim for a stronger start against a side without a league crown since 1949.
Match preview
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Lugano must still feel disappointed at failing to secure the league crown last season even if there was a large distance from eventual champions BSC Young Boys.
Bianconeri finished the previous season 12 points behind the champions, but closer inspection highlights how their season was undermined by a leaky rearguard that conceded 51 goals — 17 more than the champions, eight more than third-placed Servette and 10 more than fourth-placed FC Zurich.
The upshot of letting in that many meant the Pride of Ticino could not turn defeats into draws or victories — 13 losses was six more than Young Boys and eclipsed other clubs in the top four — even though they claimed 20 wins to the Bern outfit's 23.
Mattia Croci-Torti's men start the new campaign keen to avoid the mistakes of the previous season, as they aim to make another push for the title after last season's second-place finish.
The Bianconeri have ended runners-up more times (six) than they have clinched the title (three), and they hope to end a 75-year wait this term.
Welcoming Grasshoppers could pose challenges for last season's runners-up, who struggled against Marco Schallibaum's men.
The Hoppers lost once, played out a draw and lost one in three meetings with Lugano in 2023-24, securing a creditable point in the corresponding fixture which ended goalless.
Despite their rich history underscored by a record 27 Swiss league titles, Grasshoppers were lucky to escape relegation last season, needing a playoff victory against FC Thun to secure their top-flight status.
The Hoppers hope for a superior start this term after losing six of their opening nine league fixtures in 2023-24.
However, their far-from-encouraging pre-season results – Schallibaum's side suffered two defeats in their four matches (one victory) — may not bode well for the imminent campaign if results do not improve.
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Team News
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Zan Celar was Lugano's top scorer last season with 14 goals but the Slovenia man is not expected to play after Euro 2024 exertions.
Kacper Przybylko netted twice in the Bianconeri's 3-2 loss to Serie A champions Inter Milan, and the forward hopes to pick up where he left off.
Damian Nigg is absent for the visitors because of an unspecified issue, while Michael Kempter is a long-term absentee due to a knee injury.
Evans Maurin could make his league debut for the club after signing from Yverdon Sport at the start of July.
Tsiy-William Ndenge was the away side's leading goalscorer from midfield last season with eight strikes, and the 27-year-old hopes to start this term strongly.
Lugano possible starting lineup:
Osigwe; Zanotti, Papadopoulos, Hajdari, Marques; Macek, Grgic, Dos Santos; Babic, Przybylko, Mahou
Grasshopper Zurich possible starting lineup:
Hammel; Decarli, Tobers, Paskotsi, Matam; Seko, Abrashi; Maurin, Morandi, Abubakar; Muci
We say: Lugano 1-0 Grasshopper Zurich
The encounters between both clubs were tight affairs, and Saturday's season opener should be no different as both sides are yet to hit their stride. However, Lugano's off-season results suggests they may be at a higher level than their opponents, and playing at home could give them the edge this weekend.
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