Despite suffering for a long time against a courageous but usually somewhat sterile Lugano in front, top-ranked Basel managed to win and lengthen its pace in the standings given the results of its direct competitors. The Bianconeri's performance at St. Jakob was positive for long stretches but also unlucky, see the non-intervention of the VAR for a bad entry by Ajeti on Grgic's knee in the first half and Schmid's save with the goalkeeper beaten in the final.
VALE OUT AND AJETI ORANGE
The first half was hard-fought and played at a good pace although chances were few. The bianconeri seemed more enterprising and took five shots toward the opponent's goal while Saipi never had to intervene. Zanotti's header and Bislimi's right-footed shot did not frame the goal. Bislimi himself with a shot under the crossbar forced Hitz to deflect for a corner. Two notable episodes in the first 45′. The injury to Valenzuela, who came off after half an hour with thigh pain. And a foul by Ajeti that hit Grgic's knee. The referee drew a yellow and VAR decided not to call him back to review the intervention on the screen...
GOAL TAKEN ON A COUNTERATTACK
Even early in the second half the best chance to take the lead fell to Lugano. Goalkeeper Hitz was good at preventing a close deflection by Zanotti (on a pass from Steffen) from ending in goal. By the hour mark Celestini's changes had their effect: the likes of Kade, Karlos and Soticek were level with the starters and it showed. In 64′ on a restart Shaqiri triggered just the young German Kade who after advancing set up Traoré whose shot was blocked by Saipi but the first to pounce on the ball was the former Chicago Fire for the Rhineland lead.
RHENISH RESCUE ON THE LINE
Lugano's reaction was there and resulted in Cimignani firing a fine shot from the edge but, with the goalkeeper beaten, Schmid cleared on the goal line. Even Vladi's header failed to deflect a nice center by the same Cimignani into the goal. Thus came Basel's second goal: from a ball lost in midfield there was a new counterattack with the usual Kade who put on the feet of Soticek a ball to be scored. In the final another HCL onslaught but neither Vladi's header nor Papadopulos nor the others managed to pierce the red-blue goal, which seemed bewitched today.
SUNDAY SAN GALLO IN CORNAREDO
The good performance at St. Jakob's did not bring any points. Now the team will have to focus on the last two challenges of the regular season. On Sunday at 2:15 p.m., St. Gallen, who overcame Servette today, will be on the scene in Cornaredo, bringing them to within four points of the line.
TABLE: Basel-Lugano 2-0 (0-0)
NETWORKS: 63′ Shaqiri, 82′ Soticek.
AMMONITES: Saquiri, Ajeti, Metinho, Mai, Bislimi
SPECTATORS: 28’622
LUGANO: Saipi, Zanotti, Papadopulos, Mai (69′ Cimignani), Hajdari Valenzuela (31′ Marques), Macek (69′ Vladi), Grgic (82′ Bottani), Bislimi, Steffen, Koutsias (82′ Przybylko). Unavailable: Aliseda, Belhadj, Dos Santos, Mahou.
ARBITRO: Johannes von Mandach,
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