Lugano will be looking to go three wins in a row in the Swiss Super League this week when they head to Stadion Letzigrund to take on FC Zurich on Saturday evening.
The visitors have taken the early lead in the league after two matches with six points, while the hosts are also unbeaten, but they have managed four points, which sees them come into the match in third place.
Match preview
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Following a 13-year wait, FC Zurich lifted the Swiss Super League in the 2021-22 season, but they were unable to follow up last term and were winless in their first 13 matches, which resulted in Bo Henriksen being appointed as manager.
However, their poor start to the season was too much of a gap for the new manager to close, and despite recording a few impressive results in the second half of the season, they were only able to manage an eighth-place finish.
Over their 36 matches last season, FCZ earned 44 points with a record of 10 wins, 14 draws and 12 losses, and were the second-lowest scoring team in the league with just 41, which was the same tally as relegated side Sion posted.
After losing an entertaining match 3-2 to this opponent on the final day of last season, the hosts managed four consecutive wins in the preseason and carried their momentum into the league, beating Yverdon Sport 2-0 on opening weekend.
Last week they had to come from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Servette, and with that result, they are now unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions and are one of only five sides that are still unbeaten after the first two matches of the season.
In contrast, Lugano would have seen last season as a step in the right direction, moving up a place from fourth in 2021-22 to third last term while also improving their points tally from 54 to 57 in 36 matches.
Mattia Croci-Torti's side recorded 15 wins, 12 draws and nine losses in the season and ended just one point behind Servette in second place, though they did secure a Europa Conference League qualifier spot, which will see them return to European Cup competitions for the first time since 2018-19.
The only smudge on what has been a very good record of late was a 3-2 loss that they conceded to Young Boys in the Super Cup final at the start of June, which brought an end to an 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Since then, Lugano won one and drew one of their warm-up matches and are now the only side that still have a perfect record in the league, with two consecutive wins over Stade Lausanne-Ouchy in their first match after the break and St Gallen last week.
They have taken an early two-point lead in the league standings without conceding a single goal as yet and will be brimming with confidence, having beaten this opponent in all four encounters last term.
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Team News
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Henriksen has employed the 3-4-3 formation in both previous matches this term, making no changes in personnel and considering their results, we could see the same starting 11 take the field in this one.
The only injury absentee for the hosts is Antonio Marchesano, who is still carrying a hip issue from last season and is likely to remain sidelined for a while yet.
Meanwhile, the visitors have a lengthy casualty list with as many as six players injured, including Ignacio Aliseda, Adrian Durrer, Sebastian Osigwe, Hicham Mahou, Noah De Quieroz and Lars Lukas Mai.
Zan Celar's goal against St Gallen was his second in successive matches, and he will almost certainly lead the line with the support of Renato Steffen, who bagged the opener in their first league match.
FC Zurich possible starting lineup:
Brecher; Kamberi, Katic, Daprela; Boranijasevic, Conde, Matthew, Guerrero; Okita, Afriyie, Rohner
Lugano possible starting lineup:
Saipi; Valenzuela, Hajdari, Hajrizi, Arigoni; Grgic, Sabbatini, Espinoza, Bislimi, Steffen; Celar
We say: FC Zurich 1-2 Lugano
While FC Zurich have made a promising start to the season, Lugano have looked in excellent rhythm so far, and their record in this fixture from last season cannot be ignored.
They won both away matches against this opponent last term by a one-goal margin, and we expect the same this time around.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
