Lugano find themselves in a difficult spell, struggling to produce positive results across all competitions. They have suffered five consecutive defeats in the league, domestic cup, and Conference League.

However, if we focus solely on their Conference League campaign, there are some positives to take from their narrow 1-0 loss to Celje away. Statistically, Lugano were the better side in that match, dominating every key metric. They registered five shots on target and accumulated an xG of 1.68, making it almost a miracle that they didn’t even manage a draw.

Lugano will look to build on that performance as motivation heading into this match, where they enter as clear favorites. Their strong form in the Conference League speaks for itself they have already beaten quality teams like Gent (2-0) and HJK Helsinki (3-0), and they remained unbeaten at home during the group stage.

Meanwhile, Celje have struggled away from home. Including their Europa League qualification matches, they have lost six of their last seven away games, with their only victory coming in Cyprus. Given this contrast in form, Lugano have a strong chance to turn things around with a much-needed win.