A look at Žalgiris Kaunas’ opponent: Lugano, yet to taste defeat this season

2026-11-05 11:55

"Kauno Žalgiris” will continue their UEFA Conference League campaign on Thursday evening, facing "Lugano” in Switzerland in the third round.

Ahead of the upcoming clash, we invite you to take a closer look at the history of the future opponents of Žalgiris, their achievements in recent years and their results this season.

HISTORY. Founded on July 28, 1908, "Lugano” have now been making history for 118 years. Based near the border with Italy, the club achieved its greatest successes in the national championship in the first half of the last century.

"Lugano” have been crowned Swiss champions three times—in 1938, 1941 and 1949—while they have won the Swiss Cup four times, in 1931, 1968, 1993 and 2022.

FROM BANKRUPTCY TO EUROPE. Although "Lugano” were one of the country’s strongest clubs in the last century, at the beginning of the 21st century the future opponents of Žalgiris announced the team’s bankruptcy.

In 2003, due to major financial difficulties, the club was forced to cease operations, and the newly established team began its journey in just the fifth tier of Swiss football. Nevertheless, a merger with "Malcantone Agno” in 2004 allowed the club to return to the country’s second division, while in 2008, marking the centenary of its foundation, the team regained its historic name, "FC Lugano”.

Another important step had to wait until 2015, when, after a 14-year absence, "Lugano” returned to the highest level of Swiss football, where they have remained ever since.

A new chapter in "Lugano”’s history also began in August 2021, when the club was acquired by American billionaire Joe Mansueto. The results did not take long to arrive—in 2022, "Lugano” won the Swiss Cup after a 29-year wait, thrashing "St. Gallen” 4:1 in the final, while in the 2023–2024 season they finished second in the Swiss league.

NEW HOME. This season is special for "Lugano” for another reason as well—in the summer of 2026, the team said farewell to the "Cornaredo” stadium, which had been its home for 75 years.

In their final match at the old stadium on May 17, "Lugano” thrashed "Basel” 4:0, secured third place in the Swiss championship and a spot in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, while the new "AIL Arena” opened its doors at the end of May.

It is at this stadium that the FK "Kauno Žalgiris” footballers will visit for the first time in the club’s history on Thursday.

THE ROAD TO EUROPE. "Lugano” began this season’s UEFA Conference League qualifying campaign in the second round, where they faced Kosovo’s "Dukagjini”. In the first leg at home, the Swiss side beat their opponents by a narrow 1:0 margin, but in the return match in Kosovo they put on a real goal-scoring display and secured a 5:1 victory.

In the third qualifying round, the Swiss club faced the Faroe Islands’ "NSI Runavik”. "Lugano” won the first leg at home 2:0, but in the return match their opponents erased the two-goal deficit. The Swiss side eventually recovered, scored two more goals and secured a place in the decisive qualifying round (4:2).

In the latter round, "Lugano” faced a more serious challenge—the Israeli club "Maccabi” Tel Aviv. The Swiss won the first leg at home 2:1, while the away return match ended in a 1:1 draw. Thus, "Lugano” eliminated the Tel Aviv team 3:2 on aggregate and reached the league phase of the UEFA Conference League.

Across six qualifying matches, the Swiss recorded four wins, drew twice, suffered no defeats and scored a total of 13 goals.

START IN THE CONFERENCE LEAGUE. "Lugano” began this season’s UEFA Conference League league phase with two impressive victories, scoring no fewer than eight goals in the process.

In their first match, the Swiss club hosted Belgrade’s "Crvena Zvezda”. In a hard-fought encounter, "Lugano” spent most of the match trailing, but eventually overcame the Serbian club 3:2 to collect their first three points.

The Swiss produced an even more impressive performance in the second round, when they thrashed "Getafe”, who play in Spain’s top division, 5:2 away from home.

UNBEATEN. "Lugano” are also showing impressive form in the domestic Swiss championship, where they have yet to suffer a defeat after 12 rounds.

In their first 12 matches, the future opponents of Žalgiris recorded no fewer than 11 wins and one draw, and with 34 points they sit comfortably at the top of the table. During this run, "Lugano” have scored 36 goals and conceded just 10. The future opponents of Žalgiris are already nine points clear of the team in second place.

EXPERIENCED LEADERS. The "Lugano” squad also includes plenty of players with international experience. One of the team’s most prominent names is 35-year-old Swiss player Renato Steffen, who has played for Germany’s "Wolfsburg” and represented the Switzerland national team during his career.

In attack, 35-year-old German Kevin Behrens stands out. He has previously played for Berlin’s "Union” and "Wolfsburg”. In this season’s UEFA Conference League, including the qualifying rounds, the striker has already scored seven goals in eight matches.

The team also includes former Switzerland striker Albian Ajeti, midfielder Anto Grgic and one of the club’s most promising young players, 18-year-old Honduran Dereck Moncada.

The match between FK "Kauno Žalgiris” and "Lugano” will kick off on Thursday at 10:00 p.m. Lithuanian time.