Lugano
The team dropped points at home in a very important match against closest relegation contender Vaduz last week. Expect to see them highly motivated as they will try bounce back immediately, highly determined to replace lost points. Two home defeats in a row would slightly alarm the club, where quality in the team hasn’t been notably replaced following summer departures. Manzo is forced to make some changes as Piccinocchi is injured while Padalino is struggling with form. Rey, who is an important player for the team is expected to start his first match after injury. Changes in the attacking third are needed as the team have been lacking creativity and clinical finishing. New signing Ponce is eligible and is yet to prove his quality. Lugano will line-up in a 4-3-3 formation and will be focused on providing offensive danger through the counters. An offensive line has been massively changed and new players haven’t settled in yet. Their attacking power is still searching for good form. The hosts are likely to have a problem while trying to maintain a defensive discipline for 90 minutes. They’ll need to improve cautiousness at the back, where they were stretched and penetrated through too easily against Vaduz. Both goals they conceded in the match against Vaduz were produced through the set-pieces. Individual tactical quality has been missing and they’ll need to work on it.
Sion
Sion will have some defensive problems; Lacroix is suspended and there is a lack of natural central backs to replace him. Their key player Carlitos is struggling with injury and is unlikely to feature having missed last weekend’s defeat to Lausanne. A 4-4-2 formation is likely as a second striker is expected to return into the starting formation. Last week’s defeat at home to Lausanne is likely to be the last home match for the Sionˈs manager Tholot. He received strong media criticism and is likely to be fired after the next defeat. Sion are a team that should be always battling for the higher spots but a lack of organisation and good leadership of the oversized squad has already increased concerns in the club. Low motivation when facing lower teams in the league and poor efficiency have been singled out as the main problems in recent weeks. Tholot has too big a squad at the moment and is unable to handle the rotation policy he started from day one of the new season.
Verdict & Prediction
Lugano has purchased two new strikers in the recent days and they are expected to increase much needed efficiency in the team. They’ll play to win but a draw here wouldn’t be a bad result. Bet on home team with AH to secure the most likely outcome of this match, the draw.
Prediction : Lugano +0.50
Odds : 1.81 188Bet
