What happened in the Cup tie?

FC Lugano sent FC Basel out of the Swiss Cup quarter‑final after a dramatic penalty shoot‑out. Despite a late Barry double from Thierno Barry that put Lugano 2‑0 ahead, Basel fell short in the spot‑kick. Defender Dominik Schmid, 25, called the first half "sub‑par" and said Lugano had "almost torn the team apart".

Why does Schmid criticize the first half?

Schmid told SRF that Basel showed almost no energy in the opening 45 minutes. "I don’t know what’s positive tonight," he said before missing the decisive penalty at St. Jakob‑Park. Coach Fabio Celestini echoed the sentiment, questioning the lack of intensity and wondering why the side repeatedly falters early.

What positives can be drawn?

Both Schmid and Celestini highlighted the second half. "From the second half to the 120th minute we played well," Schmid noted. Celestini added that the comeback signal shows the squad can respond after a weak start. They praised the fighting spirit displayed while chasing the game back.

What does this mean for Basel and Lugano moving forward?

After the exit, Basel now focuses on the Super League, while Lugano remains near the top. Currently Lugano is 3rd in the Super League with 57 points (16W‑9D‑8L) and a recent form of WDLWW. The club has scored 50 goals and conceded 38, a +12 goal difference, and sits 17 points behind leaders FC Thun. Their last encounter on 2026‑05‑17 ended in a convincing 4‑0 win for Lugano. Basel’s next task is a league clash against Lausanne‑Sport, crucial for gathering points.

What’s next after the match?

Basel prepares for the upcoming league game versus Lausanne‑Sport, scheduled for Saturday at 20:30 and broadcast live on blue Sport. Coach Celestini stresses that securing three points against Lausanne is vital to salvage the season. Lugano aims to maintain its strong table position and push further in the cup, despite the disappointment of this elimination.