Bern West vs. Lugano 1–1

Helvetic BernWest and Lugano eSports opened their Alpen League campaigns with a hard-fought 1-1 draw in a remarkably balanced contest.

Possession was split evenly at 50/50, with BernWest recording 8 shots to Lugano’s 6 and a pass count of 167 to 155 — stats that reflected just how evenly matched both sides were.

Lugano struck first in the 23rd minute when Folinas converted after a bizarre sequence inside the box. Pavlos Roumpos provided a clever assist, threading the ball perfectly through Bern’s defensive line. BernWest goalkeeper Tepes was partially at fault in the buildup but went on to deliver a standout performance, earning a match rating of 8.8 and putting himself in serious contention for the TOTW selection.

BernWest found their equalizer early in the second half, as top striker Layer unleashed a precise dropkick into the top right corner in the 51st minute, leaving Lugano keeper Sotos Pantelidis helpless.

The match was not only intense on the pitch but also exemplary off it — with great communication and sportsmanship shown between both teams before and after the game. A true Fair Play Award candidate.

Final score: Helvetic Bern West 1-1 Lugano eSports