The visitors are just 90 minutes away from securing a place in the Group stage of the tournament having claimed a 2-0 victory in the first leg at their Brussels base last week and just needs to avoid a three-goal defeat in Geneva.
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Lugano will host Union SG in the second leg of their Europa League playoff tie at Stade de Geneve on Thursday night. The visitors are just 90 minutes away from securing a place in the Group stage of the tournament having claimed a 2-0 victory in the first leg at their Brussels base last week and just needs to avoid a three-goal defeat in Geneva. The hosts, meanwhile are aiming to participate in the group stage of Europe’s second tier club competition for the first time since 2019-20 season, while the Belgian outfit reached the quarter-finals of this tournament last term.
Les Saint-Gillois ne lâchent rien. 🟡🔵 pic.twitter.com/iWDm2UkYFC
— Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (@UnionStGilloise) August 31, 2023
Lugano earned a spot in the Europa League playoff courtesy of claiming third place in the Swiss Super League last term and they have started the 2023-24 campaign on a positive note, recording four wins and two defeats from six outings across all competitions. As of now, Bianconeri are sitting at the second spot in the Swiss top flight standings, with nine points to their name from their opening four league games. Meanwhile, prior to their visit to Belgium for the continental fixture, Mattia Croci-Torti’s side thrashed Gunzwi 7-0 in a Swiss Sup match, thanks to Renato Steffen’s brace and one goal each from Martim Marques, Shkelqim Vladi, Zan Celar, Roman Macek and Jonathan Sabbatini. Having scored twenty goals from their opening five games in all competitions this season, a three-goal turnaround is not beyond the realm of possibility for Lugano.
Union SG, on the other hand, are just one step away from a second successive appearance in the group stage of the Europa League. The Belgian outfit got the better of Lugano in the home-leg last Thursday thanks to two unanswered goals through Dennis Eckert and Casper Terho. Les Unionstes began their new campaign with three consecutive top flight wins against the likes of Anderlecht, St. Liege and Leuven, before losing 4-0 to KV Mechlen 4-0 on August 19. With nine points taken from their opening four league-matches, Alexander Blessin’s side are occupying fifth spot in the table.
Lugano probable starting lineup: Saipi, Espinoza, Hajrizi, Hajdari, Valenzuela, Sabbatini, Grgic, Steffen, Bislimi, Cimignani, Celar
Union SG probable starting lineup: Moris, Machida, Mac Allister, Burgess, Terho, Amani, Vanhoutte, Lapoussin, Rasmussen, Puertas, Eckert Ayensa
Lugano
| Opponents | Score |
| Union SG | 2-0 (L) |
| Gunzwil | 0-7 (W) |
| Yverdon | 6-1 (W) |
| Zurich | 3-0 (L) |
| St. Gallen | 1-0 (W) |
Union SG
| Opponents | Score |
| Lugano | 2-0 (W) |
| KV Mechelen | 4-0 (L) |
| Leuven | 5-1 (W) |
| St. Liege | 0-1 (W) |
| Anderlecht | 2-0 (W) |
| Last match-result | Score |
| Union SG beat Lugano | 2-0 |
The Europa League playoff between Lugano and Union SG will take place at Stade de Geneve on Friday at 12:00 am IST.
| Lugano vs Union SG | Key Details |
| Date | August 31 (Switzerland) |
| Venue | Stade de Geneve |
| Kickoff time in Switzerland | 8:30 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in Belgium | 8:30 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in India | 12:00 am (Friday) |
Football fans in Belgium can watch the match on RTL network. Meanwhile, those in Switzerland can catch the live action via RSI La 2 and RTs Sport.
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