Preview: Lugano vs Basel - prediction, team news, lineups

Swiss Super League champions Basel will continue their title defence on Sunday when they take on hosts Lugano at Stadio di Cornaredo.

Lugano are last in 12th place with no points after two matchweeks following their 4-0 loss against Sion on August 2, while Basel beat Young Boys 4-1 on August 6 and are third with six points after three games.

Match preview

The home side have begun the season in poor fashion considering they have played five matches in all competitions and have conceded 12 times.

Lugano will feel they should have scored against Sion considering they failed to convert any of their three big chances, and lost 4-0 despite facing no big chances.

Boss Mattia Croci-Torti saw his side suffer a 5-0 defeat in the first leg of the Conference League qualifiers' third round against NK Celje on Thursday, and elimination from the tournament looks certain.

Bianconeri are winless in five matches, losing their four most recent outings while only scoring once in that period.

Lugano have also failed to triumph in any of their three matches on the road this season, succumbing to defeat twice, and they also lost two and drew two of their final four games away from home last term.

Opponents Basel were aided last time out by the fact Young Boys were reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute when the score was 1-1, though they still deserve credit for limiting them to just one shot on target after the red card.

The champions have not kept a clean sheet in their three games in 2025-26 and have only recorded a single shut-out in their past 10 competitive matches.

RotBlau are undefeated in their last three outings against Lugano, winning 5-2 and 2-0 in the two sides' most recent meetings in May and April respectively.

Though boss Ludovic Magnin will be disappointed by his team's defensive displays, his players have managed to find the back of the net seven times this season.

A victory on Sunday would extend the club's winning streak to three games, and it would be their fifth win in seven away fixtures, ending a run of two consecutive losses on the road.

Lugano Swiss Super League form:

Lugano form (all competitions):

Basel Swiss Super League form:

Team News
© Imago

Lugano centre-backs Ayman El Wafi and Antonios Papadopoulos have faced scrutiny in recent weeks, and they must improve if their side are to win at the weekend.

Defensive midfielder Anto Grgic will come under consideration for a role, while centre-forward Georgios Koutsias may be flanked by Renato Steffen and Daniel Dos Santos Correia.

The visitors will hope that talisman Xherdan Shaqiri can lead the club to victory, and the attacker could be asked to support striker Albian Ajeti from an attacking midfield position.

Leo Leroy and Metinho were stationed in a double pivot last time out, and they are almost certain to retain their places in the XI.

In defence, perhaps Jonas Adjei Adjetey and Nicolas Vouilloz will start in the middle of a back four.

Lugano possible starting lineup:

Saipi; Guillard, Papadopoulos, El Wafi, Alioski; Bislimi, Grgic, Mahmoud; Steffen, Koutsias, Correia

Basel possible starting lineup:

Hitz; Tsunemoto, Adjetey, Vouilloz, Schmid; Metinho, Leroy; Traore, Shaqiri, Otele; Ajet

We say: Lugano 1-3 Basel

Basel's offensive firepower could prove too much for Lugano to overcome, especially given they have been poor at the back.

The hosts will take confidence from the visitors' own struggles in defence, but their exploits on Thursday may leave them at less than 100% for Sunday's match.

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