Football
FCL defeats FC Basel with an energetic performance 1:0 and stays at the top of the table
FC Luzern and FC Basel engage in a high-intensity battle in the sold-out Swisspor Arena. The home team is far more dangerous and combative, rewarding themselves with a 1:0 victory.
The Lucerne players are celebrated by the fans in the packed stadium.
Although the Baslers have somewhat more ball possession, the hosts are more effective. The Central Swiss team is the more dangerous side. Marvin Hitz in the Basel goal is tested. He makes good saves from Thibault Klidjé and Lars Villiger and in the second half avoids a header from substitute Adrian Grbic.
The performance on the Basel side, especially from Xherdan Shaqiri, is disappointing. Twelve and a half years after his last FCB match in Lucerne, the former national team star is merely a shadow of his former self. He is substituted by Basel coach Fabio Celestini as early as the 55th minute, thus being relieved.
Luca Jaquez jumps higher than the entire Basel defense and scores the match-winning goal with his first Super League goal.
The pressure from the Lucerne team increases throughout the second half. It is the twelfth corner for FCL, which Donat Rrudhani delivers perfectly into the box, where Luca Jaquez jumps higher than all the Basel defenders and scores the much-celebrated 1:0 with a header in the 78th minute. It is the first competitive goal for the 21-year-old native of Lucerne for the professionals of his training club, as well as the decisive goal of this match.
With this first home win against Basel since June 21, 2020 – back then a 2:1 victory under Celestini – Lucerne remains joint table leaders with FC Zurich, who also defeated Sion 1:0 at home. FCL and FCZ have both collected 17 points in 8 matches and have each scored 15 goals while conceding 9. Lugano is in third place; the Tessin team also has 17 points after winning 2:1 at home against last-placed Winterthur. (dw)
Luca Jaquez (center) is embraced by his teammates.
This is what the FCL coach says
Mario Frick in the interview.
FCL Reactions
Goal scorer Luca Jaquez in the interview.
Pascal Loretz in the interview.
FCL Ratings
The Telegram
Lucerne – Basel 1:0 (0:0)
Swisspor Arena. – 15,680 spectators (sold out). – Referee Wolfensberger.
Goal: 78. Jaquez (Corner Rrudhani) 1:0.
Lucerne: Loretz; Dorn, Jaquez, Knezevic (72. Löfgren), Ciganiks; Stankovic (84. Ottiger), Owusu (63. Winkler), Beloko; Rrudhani; Klidjé (63. Grbic), Villiger (72. Spadanuda).
Basel: Hitz; Barisic, Adjetey, Vouilloz (82. Fink); Kade (70. Mendes), Avdullahu, Leroy, Schmid; Shaqiri (55. Soticek), Ajeti (70. Kevin Carlos), Traoré.
Remarks: Lucerne without Beka, Chader and Karweina, as well as Vasic (all injured). Basel without Baro (suspended), Comas, Rüegg, Sigua, van Breemen, and Zé (all injured). – Warnings: 45. Vouilloz, 48. Beloko, 56. Avdullahu, 85. Fink, 87. Ottiger (all fouls).
Outlook
Next Saturday, the Lucerne team will play at home again: the opponent is FC Lausanne-Sport, and the match will start at 18:00.