It’s time to analyze our upcoming opponent, Lucerne from Switzerland. After tumultuous switches, it is interesting to watch things unfold in this introductory part of the season. Some pivotal players have left the club, first and foremost Markus Neumayer, an experienced midfielder who left for  Kasimpas, a Turkish club, in a transfer costing 750,000 Euros. It is certain that Lucerne will feel the void left behind by yet another experienced player, striker Marco Schneuwly. In 104 showings, he scored 47 times and left his team in a transfer worth 1,25 million Euros, joining Sion.

Costa said enough was enough

 

34-year old Tomislav Puljic left too, joining Vaduz. Swissarena lost their case-hardened Portuguese, Ricardo Costa (36), who went back to his homeland to play in CD Tondela. He is an ex-national team player of Portugal and ex-player for Porto, Wolfsburg, Lille, Valencia and PAOK.

Another significant loss for Lucerne is the leaving of Nicolas Haas, a young midfielder who left for Atalanta in a transfer worth 1,5 mil. Euros. Sally Sarra, Mauritius national team player, leaves for Servette FC, to make matters worse. Young striker Luka Sliskovic, who played in the U-20 in Switzerland, leaves for Winterthur, to which he returned.

 

Defense bolstered by experienced players

 

When it comes to new faces, six have arrived in FC Lucerne. Among them is midfielder Olivier Custodio, a Swiss-Portuguese worth 1 mil. Euros who arrives from Lausanne. Nicolas Schindelholz fills the void left in the defense, who played for Thun during last season. Christian Schwegler, 33-years old, arrives too, having played for RB Salzburg for whom he played 156 matches. Big things are expected regarding young German player Dren Feka, who arrives from HSV and who played in the U-19 age group of Germany.

 

Il Gwan Jong an unknown

 

Among the new faces is an Albanian of Swiss nationality, Shkelqim Demhasaj, whose previous club was Schaffhausen and he is a central striker with a reputation in the U-21 Swiss national circle. In the end, unknown factor Il Gwan Jong (25) arrives from North Korea, having played for Rimyongsu Sports Club. He allegedly played for the national team 50 times and scored 15 goals, with that information being unconfirmable considering the part of the world it comes from...