Lugano will head into the second leg of the Europa League's third qualifying round in a position of strength when they face Partizan at the Stockhorn Arena on Thursday.
The home side won the first leg 1-0 on August 8 thanks to a goal from Mattia Zanotti in the 74th minute.
Match preview
![Aleksandar Stanojevic football coach of Partizan at the qualification match for the UEFA Europa League against Lugano at the Partizan stadium, Belgrade on August 8, 2024 [on August 13, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/33/aleksandar-stanojevic.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Aleksandar Stanojevic football coach of Partizan at the qualification match for the UEFA Europa League against Lugano at the Partizan stadium, Belgrade on August 8, 2024 [on August 13, 2024]")
© Imago
The hosts' 1-0 win in the first leg was hard fought, as while they had 13 shots and 71% possession, they failed to create any big chances in front of goal.
Lugano's goal itself was well worked, with Zanotti striking from distance after good combination play around the penalty area.
Bianconeri's win last week was their first in their last nine games in the Europa League and was the first time they kept a clean sheet on the road in any of their nine fixtures away from home in the competition.
Boss Mattia Croci-Torti will be aware that his side have a mixed home record of late, having lost four of their most recent seven competitive fixtures at Stockhorn Arena.
Lugano also lost 3-2 last time out against Luzern in the Swiss Super League on August 11 despite taking the lead in the third minute of the game.
![Ghayas Zahid football player of Partizan at the qualification match for the UEFA Europa League against Lugano at the Partizan stadium, Belgrade, on August 8, 2024 [on August 13, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/33/ghayas-zahid.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Ghayas Zahid football player of Partizan at the qualification match for the UEFA Europa League against Lugano at the Partizan stadium, Belgrade, on August 8, 2024 [on August 13, 2024]")
© Imago
Opponents Partizan had just 29% possession in the first leg, though they still managed to produce 11 shots, only two fewer than Croci-Torti's team.
Interestingly, the Black-Whites also had six efforts from inside the penalty area, two more than Lugano managed.
At the time, the loss was Partizan's third in just five matches, and also their third in four Europa League games.
Since August 2017, the away side have played 18 times on the road in the competition but have only won by two or more goals twice in these matches.
In fact, excluding penalty shootout wins, Partizan have only won four fixtures from their last 16 away outings overall.
Manager Aleksandar Stanojevic's side were held to a goalless draw last time out on August 11 against IMT Novi Beograd, although they did win the other three games they played in the 2024-25 Serbian top flight.
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Team News
![FC Lugano coach Mattia Croci Torti gestures during his side's game against FC Basel on July 27, 2024 [on August 6, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/mattia-croci-torti_1.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "FC Lugano coach Mattia Croci Torti gestures during his side's game against FC Basel on July 27, 2024 [on August 6, 2024]")
© Imago
Lugano forward Mattia Bottani will remain unavailable for selection for another few weeks due to a muscle injury.
Given the hosts won 1-0 in the first leg, it would not be surprising if they named a similar starting XI.
Croci-Torti could name an unchanged back four, consisting of Mattia Zanotti, Antonios Papadopoulos, Ayman El Wafi and Milton Valenzuela.
As for the visitors, they could start midfielder Young-jun Goh, who came on at half time in the first leg.
Elsewhere, forwards Joao Grimaldo and Nemanja Nikolic could also feature in the game, but given the narrow deficit, Stanojevic could take a more cautious approach in the first half.
Lugano possible starting lineup:
Saipi; Zanotti, Papadopoulos, El Wafi, Valenzuela; Mahmoud, Grgic; Aliseda, Bislimi, Cimignani; Przybylko
Partizan possible starting lineup:
Jovanovic; De Medina, Markovic, Mujakic, Jurcevic; Arriaga, Zahid; Kalulu, Jun-Goh, Severina; Saldanha
We say: Lugano 1-1 Partizan (Lugano win 2-1 on aggregate)
The close nature of the first leg would suggest that the second could swing in either team's favour, although Thursday's clash could be low scoring once again.
If Partizan open up too early in search of an equaliser, they could be caught out during counter-attacks.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
