FC Lugano show their character: Super-sub Behrens fires Bianconeri to victory over Sion
A night for the super-subs: Lugano come from behind to beat Sion
What a fight at Cornaredo! FC Lugano showed their incredible strength once again on Wednesday night: their ability to stage a comeback. The Bianconeri fell behind early against a feisty Sion side, but anyone who knows Mattia Croci-Torti's men knows this: the boys from Ticino never throw in the towel. Renato Steffen was the man who levelled things up after a lively start from his team – a goal that sent the stadium into raptures. But the home side wanted more.
The winner came from a player who'd only stepped onto the pitch a few minutes earlier: Kevin Behrens. The substitute striker lived up to his reputation as a super-sub, coolly slotting home to make it 2-1. It was the perfect execution of what the club likes to call their "Plan B" – a tactical flexibility that makes FC Lugano so unpredictable this season. These three points cement Lugano's spot in the top echelons of the Super League.
From Thun to the Europa League: FC Lugano flying high
The win over Sion is part of a string of consistently strong performances. In recent weeks, the squad has impressed both at home against FC Thun and in their clash with FC Lausanne-Sport. Particularly pleasing from a Ticino perspective: the kids are making their mark, too. FC Lugano U21 are in good nick in the Promotion League, highlighting the excellent youth development happening at the club. Players like Steffen and Behrens are the current faces of success, but the future's looking bright as well.
But the next big test is just around the corner. In the Europa League, FC Lugano are heading to one of the most atmospheric venues on the continent. The match between Besiktas Istanbul and FC Lugano promises to be a cracking football spectacle. The cauldron of the Vodafone Park will be rocking, and the Ticino side will need to be at their absolute peak to get a result against the Turkish heavyweights. But after showing that grit against Sion, and with those solid league displays under their belt, they'll be heading to the Bosphorus with plenty of confidence.
Lugano's recent run at a glance
- FC Lugano v FC Sion: 2-1 (Goals: Steffen, Behrens)
- FC Lugano v FC Thun: Dominant display and three crucial points
- FC Lugano v FC Lausanne-Sport: Controlled performance with plenty of possession
You can feel the buzz in Ticino. FC Lugano haven't just cemented their place in Swiss football; they're now mixing it up on the European stage. The coming weeks will show whether Croci-Torti's side can make a real splash in Europe. One thing's for sure right now: this FC Lugano outfit is ready for the big time.