Lugano vs Bodo/Glimt prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-09-20 19:00.
After a 3-0 aggregate defeat against Union Royale SG in the UEFA Europa League play-off round, Lugano will instead compete in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) group stage for the first time. A priority for Mattia Croci-Torti’s side on the opening matchday should be to find the net as they have failed to score in each of their last five home European games (D2, L3), a run which stretches back to October 2019.
In the Swiss Super League, the Bianconeri are well placed in fifth position after five games, three points behind leaders FC Zürich with a game hand, and head into this match after a confidence boosting 3-0 away win at fifth-tier Lancy FC in the Swiss Cup. However, this is likely to be a much sterner test when Lugano come up against Norwegian opposition for the first time in the club’s history.
With their season running from March to November, Bodø/Glimt are already running into the home straight of the Eliteserien where they are in second place, two points behind leaders Viking, with nine fixtures remaining. They have had to work hard to even reach this stage of the UECL, with two-leg victories over both Bohemians 1905 and Pyunik, before defeating Sepsi OSK 5-4 on aggregate after extra time in the play-off round!
Kjetil Knutsen’s team have an excellent record in away games, albeit the majority of them domestically, with only two defeats on the road across all competitions from their last 17 starts (W12, D3), including two travelling wins en route to the UECL group stage. Those victories ended a ten-match streak without a win in European games away from home, which bodes well for their next trip to Switzerland. Their previous one saw them lose 2-1 to FC Zürich only 11 months ago despite taking the lead.
Players to watch: Zan Celar looks best suited to end Lugano’s European goal drought as he has fired home five times already this season including twice in his last game. Faris Moumbagna seems to enjoy his travels, illustrated by scoring in two of Glimt’s three UECL away fixtures in this campaign.
Hot stat: Bodø/Glimt have failed to score in only one of their last six European away games (W2, D2, L2).