Lugano 3-2 Crvena Zvezda: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Europa Conference League Matchday 1 · Thursday 15 October 2026 · Stadio di Cornaredo, Lugano · referee F. Badstübner · full time
Full time: Lugano 3-2 Crvena Zvezda
Lugano 3-2 Crvena Zvezda: Lugano took the points in Europa Conference League Matchday 1 on Thursday 15 October 2026 at Stadio di Cornaredo. The goals: Albian Ajeti 25', Timi Max Elsnik 32', Rade Krunic 67', Dereck Moncada 84', Anto Grgic 89'. Moneyball's pre-match estimate had the result right.
How Lugano won it
Lugano struck first through Albian Ajeti in the 25th minute, set up by Renato Steffen. Crvena Zvezda levelled at 1-1 in the 32nd minute through Timi Max Elsnik, set up by Matej Gashtarov. Crvena Zvezda turned it round: Rade Krunic made it 1-2 in the 67th minute, set up by Muhammed Cham. Lugano levelled at 2-2 in the 84th minute through Dereck Moncada, set up by Yanis Cimignani. Lugano turned it round: Anto Grgic from the penalty spot made it 3-2 in the 89th minute. It came late, and it settled the match.
It was 1-1 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
The lead changed hands 2 times.
The referee, F. Badstübner, showed 7 yellow cards: 2 to Lugano and 5 to Crvena Zvezda.
Lugano: M. Croci-Torti, 3-4-2-1 · Crvena Zvezda: A. Riera Ortega, 5-4-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball's Match Board pick, Over 2.75 at 1.79, came in: 3-2 settles it as a winner.
The estimate's most likely result was a Crvena Zvezda win at 40%; a Lugano win, at 34%, is what happened. Its single most likely score was 1-1 (12%).
The match had far more goals than expected: the estimate was about 2.9 goals and there were 5.
Over 2.5 goals had been put at 56%; with 5 goals the over came in, as the estimate leaned.
Both teams to score was 60%; both did, in line with the estimate.
Computed before kick-off from both sides' season goals and expected goals as of 2026-10-09, through a Dixon-Coles score model, and left as it was.
Why it went this way
Lugano had 5 shots on target, Crvena Zvezda 5.
Crvena Zvezda had 59% of the ball, but Lugano took the points.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Lugano came into it with 7 Europa Conference League matches played, scoring 2.3 and conceding 1.0 a match, with 2.37 expected goals for and – against, and had won 71% of their matches.
Crvena Zvezda came into it with 1 Europa Conference League matches played, scoring 2.0 and conceding 3.0 a match, with 1.22 expected goals for and – against, and had won 0% of their matches.
Lugano vs Crvena Zvezda: the match in numbers
| Lugano | Match statistics | Crvena Zvezda |
|---|---|---|
| 41% | Ball possession | 59% |
| 18 | Total shots | 20 |
| 5 | Shots on target | 5 |
| 4 | Big chances | 2 |
| 384 | Total passes | 545 |
| 86% | Pass accuracy | 90% |
| 5 | Corners | 3 |
| 9 | Fouls | 11 |
| 2 | Offsides | 0 |
| 18 | Tackles | 16 |
| 3 | Saves | 2 |
| 2 | Yellow cards | 4 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Timi Max Elsnik (Crvena Zvezda), rated 7.6 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.
Lugano
- Anto Grgic 7.6 1 goal
- Dereck Moncada 7.5 1 goal
- Albian Ajeti 7.3 1 goal
- Beckham Castro 7.1
- Uran Bislimi 7.0
Crvena Zvezda
- Timi Max Elsnik 7.6 1 goal
- Rade Krunic 7.5 1 goal
- Muhammed Cham 7.4 1 assist
- Matej Gashtarov 7.1 1 assist
- Tomás Händel 7.0
The lowest-rated starter was Stefan Gudelj at 6.0. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Lugano: Getafe vs Lugano Thursday 22 October 2026 · Europa Conference League
- Crvena Zvezda: Crvena Zvezda vs FC København Thursday 22 October 2026 · Europa Conference League
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Lugano vs Crvena Zvezda
What was the score in Lugano vs Crvena Zvezda?
Lugano 3-2 Crvena Zvezda (half-time 1-1), Europa Conference League, Thursday 15 October 2026.
Who scored in Lugano vs Crvena Zvezda?
Albian Ajeti 25', Timi Max Elsnik 32', Rade Krunic 67', Dereck Moncada 84', Anto Grgic 89'.
Did Moneyball predict Lugano vs Crvena Zvezda correctly?
Moneyball's Match Board pick, Over 2.75 at 1.79, came in: 3-2 settles it as a winner.
Who was man of the match in Lugano vs Crvena Zvezda?
Timi Max Elsnik, rated 7.6 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Lugano vs Crvena Zvezda?
F. Badstübner.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.