Both seeking to hit the ground running in the new Swiss Super League season, Lugano and FC Thun will lock horns at the Cornaredo Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The home team finished fourth in last season’s top-flight, while the visitors are back in the top tier following a five year absence.
Lugano have already had a taste of competitive action this season, playing out a 0-0 draw with Cluj in a Europa League qualifier on Thursday night.
Mattia Croci-Torti has been busy reshaping his squad ahead of the new Swiss Super League season getting underway, most notably bringing in North Macedonia left-back Ezgjan Alioski.
As for Thun, they will still be on cloud nine after securing promotion back to the top tier last term.
Manager Mauro Lustrinelli has retained the core of the squad that ended the club’s five-year exile from the top table of Swiss football.
How the bookies view it: Lugano to land three points
Given that the two teams were not in the same division last season, it’s no surprise to see Lugano as short-priced 8/15 favourites on Boylesports. However, backing the hosts to triumph alongside Under 4.5 Goals will boost the odds to a much more attractive even-money (1/1) on Bet 365. This combination clicked in seven of Lugano’s nine league wins at home last season.
Thun are as big as 10/3 with Boylesports to mark their return to the top-flight with a victory on Sunday while a share of the Cornaredo Stadium spoils is also considered unlikely at 3/1.
Head to head: History against the hosts
Thun can draw some confidence from the fact they hold the upper hand in terms of the overall head-to-head record in this fixture. The Stockhorn Arena outfit have 13 wins to Lugano’s 10 while the other eight encounters have ended all square.
Players to watch: Keep an eye on Koutsias
On-loan striker Georgios Κoutsias is expected to spearhead Lugano’s attack on Sunday afternoon. The young Greek forward ended last season with a goal in Lugano’s home game with Young Boys.
Leonardo Bertone netted a quietly impressive nine goals for Thun last term. Thus, the Italian midfielder could merit support for an anytime strike on Sunday if odds are made available by the bookmakers.
Predicted line-ups
New signing Ahmed Kendouci is the only confirmed absentee for Lugano, with the Algerian midfielder still recovering from a leg injury that he suffered towards the end of last season.
Thun boss Lustrinelli doesn’t have any injury or suspension issues to deal with ahead of the club’s first top-flight fixture in five years.
Lugano: Saipi; Valenzuela, Haidari, Mai, Papadopoulos; Zanotti, Dos Santos, Kendoucii, Grgic; Aliseda, Kousias
FC Thun: Steffen; Balaruban, Bamert, Montolio, Daler; Bertone, Reichmuth, Meyhtri, Janjicic, Bertone; Ibeji
Anything else catch the eye?
Given that four of Lugano’s last five home games across all competitions have featured two match goals or fewer, siding with Under 3 Asian goals stands out at 4/5 on Bet 365.
The only way this bet would be a losing one is if this fixture generates four or more match goals.
Elsewhere, Thun look overpriced to earn a minimum of four corners during this clash at 4/5 with UniBet.
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