– Renato Steffen shows FC Basel how it’s done
After two wins against YB and Winterthur, FCB leaves the field as a loser against Lugano. A goal from Renato Steffen in the 69th minute decides the game.
Published: February 3, 2024, 8:07 p.m. Updated 13 hours ago
Lugano’s goalscorer Renato Steffen in a duel with Basel’s Yusuf Demir.
Photo: Marc Schumacher (Freshfocus)
This duel couldn’t have been much more unequal. On the one hand, Renato Steffen, 32 years old, with the experience of over 100 Bundesliga games, 38 international matches and all sorts of cleverness. And on the other side: Roméo Beney, 19 years old, in only his sixth Super League appearance.
In the 69th minute the two met in the Basel penalty area and the score was 0-0. And in the end, Steffen goes away cheering, while Beney is left only with disappointment. The Ticino team held on to their 1-0 lead until the end and won in St. Jakob Park.
It is the first defeat of the year for Basel. After the last two wins against Young Boys and Winterthur, coach Fabio Celestini’s team had moved closer to the top half of the table again. And there were at least slight hopes of a big catch-up in 2024.
Against the Ticino team, FCB showed once again that they were more stable defensively than they were a few months ago. It has now become much more difficult to score goals against this stabilized team, and Lugano is also feeling that this evening. But one problem remains at FCB: who is actually supposed to score the goals?
Newcomer Benjamin Kololli has a good chance of putting Basel in the lead. And Thierno Barry – typical of him – almost scored with his back. But apart from that, the Basel strikers once again remain pale and harmless. Especially since returnee Albian Ajeti is only sitting in the stands and will probably only be able to help FCB in several weeks when his body is ready.
Emmanuel Essiam, Michael Lang and new signing Albian Ajeti in the stands.
Photo: Marc Schumacher (Freshfocus)
The situation is completely different for the Luganesi, who ultimately score a goal from a single shot on goal and leave Basel with three points. Because at the crucial moment, Steffen’s experience prevails over Beney’s youthfulness.
And so in the end the realization remains that FC Basel still has a lot of work to do when it comes to its attack under Fabio Celestini. For the goal of Championship Round. But also with a view to the quarter-finals in the Swiss Cup. It will be played again in Basel at the end of February. FCB’s opponent is then: FC Lugano.
Yesterday, 10:31 p.m
And then referee San ends the game. The last FCB advances don’t bring anything countable either, so the Luganesi celebrate and take 3 points from northwestern Switzerland.
Yesterday, 10:30 p.m
And actually, Yusuf Demir has the equalizer here. He finishes just before Saipi – but Hajrizi blocks in Extremis.
Yesterday, 10:26 p.m
The corner poses no danger. Shortly afterwards, Demir crosses into the center, Schmid climbs up, but doesn’t put enough pressure behind the ball. The device flies over the goal.
Yesterday, 10:25 p.m
…or could a standard bring about a turning point?
Yesterday, 10:23 p.m
The assistant referee indicates this. Is there anything else going on in Joggeli?
Yesterday, 10:22 p.m
The striker first commits a foul, then complains vehemently – for which he receives a yellow card.
Yesterday, 10:21 p.m
FCB now mostly keeps the ball in their own ranks, Lugano retreats and hopes for counterattack opportunities – there are just a few minutes left to play.
Yesterday, 10:19 p.m
Suddenly things happen quickly: Zan Celar is played steeply, remains confident in front of HItz and scores. That would have been 2-0 if the striker hadn’t started just offside.
Yesterday, 10:13 p.m
Anto Grgic kicks this one. The ball turns dangerously towards the goal, but the Basel defensive line clears in time.
Yesterday, 10:10 p.m
The FCB tries to react to the deficit, but FC Lugano allows little in their own penalty area, including in the following situation: Schmid penetrates the penalty area at speed, passes to the middle – where a defender reaches the goal in front of Jovanovic at the last moment Ball is coming.
Yesterday, 10:06 p.m
It is Espinoza who is shown the yellow box by Fedayi San.
Yesterday, 10:02 p.m
Renato Steffen puts Luganesi in front. A beautiful cross from Sabbatini is inadequately defended, Steffen is in the right place and nets from close range – Hitz has no chance of defending. Lugano was not seen in Basel’s half of the game for a long time, but the Ticino team brought this attack to an end in cold blood.
Yesterday, 10 p.m
Once again, a mistake by Lugano keeper Saipi goes off lightly. His pass is quickly intercepted by Avdullahu, who then immediately finishes. But at the most inopportune moment, the 19-year-old slips away and grimaces.
Yesterday, 9:58 p.m
The FCB defender goes into the duel too impetuously and receives a yellow card. The subsequent free kick hits Renato Steffen clearly too far.
Yesterday, 9:56 p.m
Jovanovic and Beney replace Kade and Barry.
Yesterday, 9:56 p.m
Lugano coach Mattia Croci-Torti now also intervenes in the game: the working day ends for center forward Vladi, who has largely remained inconspicuous, and Hicham Mahou. Zan Celar and Anto Grgic are new.
Yesterday, 9:48 p.m
And this was Kololli’s last scene; he makes room for Yusuf Demir. Augustin is no longer taking part either, Juan Gauto is new. Coach Celestini apparently wants to bring new impetus to the Basel offensive.
Yesterday, 9:45 p.m
And again it’s Benjamin Kololli – and again the ball isn’t in the net. Dominik Schmid gets through well on the left and passes to Kololli. However, he only puts a little pressure behind the ball and plays it directly into the hands of the Lugano keeper. More would have been possible.
Yesterday, 9:41 p.m
…but here too there is no goal completion. A quick Lugano counterattack is then prevented by Vouilloz.
Yesterday, 9:38 p.m
We continue in St. Jakob Park!
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