Still hoping to salvage Champions League qualification from a disappointing season, Young Boys will visit Lugano at Stadio di Cornaredo on Saturday evening, when the Swiss Super League reaches its climax.
While YB can still snatch second spot, their hosts are in the mix for a place in next term's Conference League - so both need no motivation to win on the final matchday.
Match preview
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Though Lugano have earned just one point from their last three matches - recently drawing 1-1 at Stade de la Tuiliere against European rivals Lausanne Sport - they are still clinging on to fourth place in the standings.
With one round remaining, both sides sit just above Luzern in the race for a top-four finish, with only one set to confirm continental qualification - a possible fifth place in Europe rests on Basel winning the cup.
Luzern's 4-3 defeat to Servette last week leaves Lugano as masters of their own destiny, as victory on the last matchday would certainly wrap up the Bianconeri's berth in Conference League qualifying.
Coach Mattia Croci-Torti will be concerned about finishing the job, though, as his team last won a home game in March. In fact, they have lost three of their last five Super League fixtures at Stadio di Cornaredo - more defeats than throughout the first 13 this season.
This would also be a terrible time to go four league games without a win - something that last happened to the Ticino club back in late 2023 - but their record against Young Boys suggests that could occur on Saturday.
Beaten 1-0 in Berne earlier this season, the Bianconeri have averaged just 0.8 points against YB in the Super League to date; albeit, they have lost none of the teams' last four meetings in Lugano.
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When these clubs clashed at Stadion Wankdorf in February, Jaouen Hadjam scored the lone goal in the 84th minute, continuing a general trend of Young Boys victories.
Though they have faltered this term, slumping out of the Champions League in miserable style before losing their domestic crown, YB can still finish inside the top two and book another ticket to Europe's elite club competition.
The Berne club unexpectedly thrashed Basel 6-2 last time out, both chastening their successors as Swiss champions and leaving themselves safe in third place.
Now 10 points behind the table-toppers, they are just two shy of second-placed Servette; so beating Lugano would give them a chance of finishing runners-up, thereby trading the Europa League preliminaries for a place in Champions League qualification.
Giorgio Contini's side have lost half of their 18 away games, though - including four of the last seven - and their hosts will be similarly fired up this weekend.
Team News
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Lugano's absence list features several players, as Lukas Mai, Hadj Mahmoud and experienced Switzerland international Renato Steffen are all sidelined by injury, while left-back Martim Marques must serve a suspension.
Milton Valenzuela is set to replace the latter in defence, but Mattia Croci-Torti may otherwise name a settled side.
After netting the equaliser against Lausanne last week, midfielder Anto Grgic is the Bianconeri's leading scorer with nine goals, while Christian Fassnacht tops the charts for Young Boys.
Thanks to a brace against Basel, Fassnacht has now tied his personal record for Super League strikes in one season (11), and he will aim to break it while supporting Cedric Itten up front.
Fellow forward Ebrima Colley must make way, however, as he joins centre-back Mohamed Camara in the stands due to suspension.
Lugano possible starting lineup:
Osigwe; Brault-Guillard, Papadopolous, Hajdari, Valenzuela; Grgic, Doumbia; Dos Santos, Aliseda, Cimignani; Vladi
Young Boys possible starting lineup:
Keller; Athekame, Lauper, Benito, Hadjam; Males, Lakomy, Ugrinic, Fassnacht; Bedia, Itten
We say: Lugano 1-2 Young Boys
Leaving them hoping that Lausanne and Luzern both slip up - or that fifth spot is ultimately enough to secure a European place - Lugano are set to lose at home on the last matchday.
Towards the end of a sub-par campaign, Young Boys showed their potential by thumping six past Basel last time out, and they can now finish off on a high.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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Jonathan O'Shea
